Sluggish response in Hajj pilgrim registration
Shamsul Islam
Only a small percentage of the approximately 65,000 people who pre-registered for the 1448 AH Hajj have finished their paperwork, showing a slow response to the final registration process. As of Thursday, only 1,231 passengers under private management and 751 passengers under government management had made the necessary 3,500,000 taka deposit. Bangladesh’s capacity to meet its allotted quota for the journey, which is set for May 15, 2027, is seriously threatened by this delay, which is driven by the lump-sum deposit requirement and more general economic difficulties.
The Saudi government has denied any deadline extensions, so passengers must finish their final registration by September 24 in accordance with the Royal Saudi plan. Mr. Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, the secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, stated that management actions must conform to this strict schedule, with no possibility for extension. Despite the logistical challenges, he expressed optimism that dedicated people waiting for the news will finish their registrations within the allotted time.
Mr. Abu Yusuf, Chairman of the Ababil Hajj Group, pointed out the negative reaction and cautioned that the large upfront payment puts excessive pressure on people. To help reach the quota, he proposed reducing the initial deposit requirement to 200,000 taka and collecting payments in three installments. Mr. Yusuf also stressed the need for the government to be very careful to stop any syndicates from faking Hajj airline tickets throughout the operating cycle.
Leaders of the group, including Hab Executive Member Mufti Junaid Gulzar, emphasized that new Saudi laws, such as the requirement for catering services and the removal of the D category, had unintentionally raised total prices. Mr. Syed Golam Sarwar, the president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (Hab), and Mr. Farid Ahmed Majumdar, the secretary general, cautioned that these changes to laws made compliance difficult. Until the deadline, they intend to keep a close watch on registrations and ask for an extension if the quota is not reached.
The country’s economic situation has a significant influence on pilgrimages, according to Dr. Abdullah Al Naser, President of the Pilgrim and Haji Welfare Council. The government was able to reduce passenger airfares by 24,800 taka, but the cost of accommodation, transportation, and services increased by around 40,000 taka in Saudi Arabia. He asked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to step in and ask for a one-month delay of the final registration deadline due to limited financial resources.
Although the overall quota of 127,198 passengers from Bangladesh has remained constant, it has been more difficult to fill spaces in previous years. Stakeholders point out that pilgrim numbers fell to 78,500 in 2026, and comparable structural and economic constraints might further depress numbers in 2027. Travel agencies and ministry officials are in a race against time to grab the remaining allotments as the deadline of September 24 comes near.
