990 Hajj agencies return unspent Tk 380 million to Bangladesh

About 380 million taka stuck with Saudi Arabia's Hajj agencies has been brought back to Bangladesh. Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain gave this information at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday.

Dr. Khalid Hossain said that 990 Bangladeshi hajj agencies had deposited money on the 'Masar Nusuk' platform of the Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry, from which a total of 12.5 million 38 thousand 468 Saudi riyals and 57 halala money have been brought back. This is equivalent to about 370 million 94 million taka in Bangladeshi currency.

The returned money has already been transferred from the IBAN of the Nusuk platform of the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Saudi Arabia to the Saudi Franchise Bank of the Bangladesh Hajj Office.

The advisor said that out of 990 agencies, the bank accounts of 831 have been found, their money will be returned through the bank. The bank information of the remaining 156 has been requested, and after receiving the information, they will also be refunded. The maximum amount of money an agency will receive is 4.5 million taka, and the minimum amount is 2 taka.

Dr. Khalid Hossain also said, “Returning the unspent money accumulated over the past few years is the result of the continuous initiatives and goodwill of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Like the successful Hajj management of 2025, we are committed to ensuring a more transparent and modern Hajj management in the future as well.”

He said that more than 90 percent of Bangladeshi pilgrims perform Hajj through private Hajj agencies. As per the instructions of the Saudi government, these agencies submit the Hajj expenses to the Saudi ministry’s Nusuk platform with the approval of Bangladesh Bank. Currently, 1,339 Bangladeshi agencies are registered here.

The advisor said, “In the last 7-8 years, some of the money that these agencies sent for Hajj expenses in the Saudi side was unspent. After learning about the matter, we contacted the Saudi government through letters, meetings and direct requests. As a result, they finally returned the money.”

Regarding whether additional money was taken from the pilgrims, he clarified, “Agencies often send additional money so that there is no shortage in necessary expenses. This is part of their commercial account, not additional money taken from the pilgrims.”

Dr. Khalid Hossain expressed hope that this initiative will open new horizons of good governance, transparency and trust in the Hajj management of Bangladesh.