The revenue authorities have decided to withdraw the increased excise duty on plane fare for Hajj pilgrims this year.
The travellers to the holy shrine in Mecca will be exempted from paying an additional amount of Tk1,000 as excise duty on airfare this year.
The National Board of Revenue is scheduled to issue a circular in this regard on Monday, said a senior official of the board.
The pilgrims will pay a total of Tk1,24,752.21 for a single ticket, according to the cabinet declaration early this year.
Despite the hike in excise duty ceiling on airfare since July 1, the pilgrims are exempt from the extra charge.
Thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the withdrawal of increased excise duty on plane tickets for Hajj pilgrims this year, General Secretary of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh M Shahadat Hossain Taslim told the Dhaka Tribune: “We wrote the prime minister for withdrawal of the increased excise duty on plane fares. It is a matter of great happiness that she considered our request.”
He added that the Hajj pilgrims would also be exempted from paying Tk2,000 as airport building tax in Jeddah.
“The airport building tax would be adjusted with the amount paid for city checking. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has taken step in this regard,” said Taslim.
As the increased duty will be withdrawn and the airport building tax not taken, a Hajj pilgrim may enjoy a total discount of Tk3,000 this year, he added.
According to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, the Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia for Bangladeshi pilgrims will begin on July 24. The first flight will carry 419 pilgrims.
The flights will continue till September 26 while the return flights will begin from September 6 and continue till October 5.
A total of 1,27,198 Bangladeshi pilgrims are registered to perform the Hajj this year.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
