HC: This year’s hajj package inhuman

The High Court on Tuesday termed as inhuman the year’s hajj package because of its high costs, adding that the people involved in setting up this costly package will have to shoulder the sin.

A High Court bench of justices KM Kamrul Kader and Mohammad Ali made the remark while hearing a writ petition. It said the Hajj package that has been fixed by the government for Hajj travelers is unusual and unreasonable.

The bench said that in other countries of the world, the government keeps a separate budget for Hajj, but Bangladesh does not have it. It pointed out that people like themselves cannot go for Hajj due to the Hajj package's high costs, how can the poor people go?

On March 12, Advocate Ashraf-Uz-Zaman, also chief coordinator of Al-Quran Study Centre, filed the writ petition with the High Court, challenging the government decision to fix Tk 6.83 lakh as the Hajj package per pilgrim this year.

This public interest litigation writ also sought a court order for the government to reduce and re-fix the hajj expenses.

The HC bench asked the attorney general’s office to get informed about the position of the religious affairs ministry regarding fixing of the hajj package, and place the information before the bench on Wednesday.

The HC bench also fixed this day for hearing on the petition. Lawyer Gazi Md Mohsin represented the writ petitioner.