Preregistration for Hajj begins March 20

The preregistration process introduced from the current year for Hajj aspirants begins on March 20.
‘Saudi Arabia will allow Bangladesh to send 1,01,758 pilgrims to perform Hajj this year also. The process for preregistration, mandatory for all aspirants, will begin on March 20,’ religious affairs minister Matior Rahaman said while inaugurating the three-day Hajj Fair in the city.
He said none would be able to deposit fees with the selected banks for performing Hajj without the preregistrations.
Those who would complete the preregistration online and deposit the minimum fees fixed by the government on time would be allowed to the final stage of registration for performing the Hajj, the minister said.
The preregistration system would help contain irregularities by various private agencies that usually cause sufferings to the pilgrims under the private management, he added.
Around 10,000 pilgrims from Bangladesh would be able to perform Hajj under the government management while the rest 91,758 will remain under the private management this year. Hajj will be held in September.
There are 69 stalls offering Hajj packages and banking services in the fair organised by the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh.
The cabinet on January 11 approved the Hajj Package- 2016, setting the minimum cost for a pilgrim at Tk 3,04,903, up by Tk 8,697 from the previous year.
The package includes costs of accommodations, meals, transportation in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a return ticket.
But a pilgrim will have to pay Tk 3,60,028 for Package-I that offers better accommodations and meals under the government management.
The government in 2015 introduced the online registration in compliance with the Saudi authorities’ initiatives to digitised the Hajj management system, said officials.
The KSA allowed last year 1,01,758 devotees from Bangladesh to perform the annual pilgrimage of the Muslims, according to official statistics.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net