Addressing the firm determination to provide best service to hajj pilgrims, Religious Affairs Minister Md Faridul Haque Khan said on Saturday that this year the government has reduced the cost of general hajj package compared to the last year despite the high price of dollar against local currency.

“We are sincere so that the hajj pilgrims of this country can perform the hajj at a reasonable cost,” he said.

The religious minister said this while inaugurating ‘Hajj pilgrims training 2024’ at Osmani Smriti Auditorium in Dhaka.

He informed that they are reducing the price by Taka 1, 04,178 for government hajj package while Taka 82,818 for private hajj package.

Minister Faridul said the government is working to ease the official works of pilgrims and it (government) is determined to provide best service to them.

He said the training has been arranged for the pilgrims so that they can perform the hajj following proper religious rules. Skilled trainers have been selected for the training.

Putting forward the importance of the hajj before the intended pilgrims, he said the hajj was made mandatory for one time for every Muslim in life.

Chaired by the ministry’s secretary Md A Hamid Zamadder, Additional Secretary (hajj) Md Matiul Islam, Additional Secretaries Md Nayeb Ali Mandal and Dr Md Manjurul Haque and Dhaka Hajj Office director Muhammad Kamruzzaman, among others, spoke on the occasion.