Dhaka: The government will refund a total of Tk 4.87 crore to 4,341 Hajj pilgrims who performed Hajj this year under government management, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) stated on Sunday. He shared this information during a press briefing at the Secretariat, addressing the refund of unspent money from the Saudi Arabian segment of the Hajj pilgrimage. State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Shamim Kaisar was also in attendance.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Kaikobad presented refund cheques to 10 pilgrims at the event, assuring that the remaining pilgrims would receive funds directly into their bank accounts within a week. 'Some 4,341 pilgrims will receive a total of Tk 4,87,23,014 as refunds in 2026. The money will be sent directly to their bank accounts,' Kaikobad explained. However, 23 pilgrims will not receive any refunds due to medical expenses that exceeded their health insurance coverage.
Kaikobad urged Hajj pilgrims to remain vigilant against fraud, emphasizing that all refunds, grants, and other assistance from the Ministry of Religious Affairs are processed exclusively through bank accounts. 'No one from the ministry will call pilgrims to request money or ask for debit or credit card numbers, or PIN numbers of bKash, Nagad, or Rocket,' he warned. He stressed that anyone doing so is a fraudster and advised everyone to be cautious.
Highlighting the government's efforts to reduce Hajj expenses, Kaikobad noted that reducing the cost of the pilgrimage was a key electoral pledge. 'Under the Prime Minister's special directives, airfares for Hajj 2026 were reduced by Tk 24,830 compared to the previous year. Continuing this effort, airfare for Hajj 2027 has been reduced and fixed at only Tk 1.30 lakh,' he announced, describing it as a historic milestone for pilgrims' welfare.
The government successfully negotiated lower accommodation costs than those allocated for house rent in the 2021 Hajj package. 'Through negotiations, we were also able to reduce service charges to some extent. The item-wise expenditure for each package has already been finalised,' Kaikobad said.
In 2026, there were three government Hajj packages: Hajj Package-1 (Special), Hajj Package-2, and Hajj Package-3. Pilgrims under Hajj Package-1, staying at Hotel Buloorat Al Durrah, the nearest accommodation to the Kaaba, will receive refunds ranging from Tk 38,697.32 to Tk 1,80,572.71, based on their package and room arrangements. Pilgrims under Hajj Package-2, accommodated at Houses 2, 3, and 4 near the Hajj Mission in Makkah, will receive refunds ranging from Tk 78,713.94 to Tk 2,505.49. Those under General Hajj Package-3, staying at House No. 5 or Hotel Number One, will each receive Tk 3,718.09, with no short-package or upgrade options available.