ISLAM
From Azizia to Haram Sharif: Three-tier Hajj packages planned
The cost of performing Hajj under government management is expected to fall slightly next year due to reduced airfare, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Air tickets, which cost Tk 167,820 this year, are expected to be set between Tk 155,000 and Tk 160,000 for 2026.
Three government packages will be introduced, compared to two this year. The first package offers accommodation within 500–700 meters of the Haram Sharif, the most expensive option. The second provides lodging within 2 kilometers, slightly cheaper than last year’s equivalent. The third is a budget package in Azizia, estimated at around Tk 450,000.
Private Hajj pilgrims will also have one mandatory package set by the government, ensuring agencies cannot undercut the price. This year, government packages cost Tk 478,242 and Tk 575,680, while the minimum private package was Tk 483,156.
Officials confirmed the final announcement will be made on Sunday (28 September) following approval in the executive committee meeting. Registration for Hajj 2026 has already begun with an initial deposit of Tk 400,000, and must be completed by 12 October. The pilgrimage is expected to take place in late May, subject to the sighting of the moon.
A rural healthcare practitioner has been arrested in Faridpur’s Saltha upazila for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Allah and insulting religion, police said. Sheikh Akhtar Hossain, 55, was detained on Sunday morning around 10am from the Bauskhali area of Ballovdi Union.
According to police, Hossain posted a video on Facebook last Friday in which he referred to a statement by Baul singer Abul Sarkar and cited lyrics from Baul songs. In the video he reportedly described Allah as a “thief, fraudster and killer” and labelled the current government as a “Taliban government.” The video quickly spread online, triggering outrage among local Islamic scholars.
Following complaints from residents, police arrested him and took him into custody. Officer-in-Charge of Saltha Police Station Md Ataur Rahman confirmed that a case has been filed against Hossain on charges of religious defamation. He has been sent to the Faridpur court, and further legal procedures are ongoing.
At least 42 Indian nationals, including nine children, were killed in a deadly road accident near Madinah in Saudi Arabia while returning from performing Umrah. Among the victims were 18 members of a single family spanning three generations, according to a report by NDTV. The crash occurred around 1:30am on Sunday when their bus collided with a diesel tanker on the Makkah–Madinah route, causing the vehicle to burst into flames.
The accident took place in the Muharrass area, approximately 30 kilometres from Madinah. Most passengers were asleep at the time of the collision. All the victims were residents of India’s Telangana state.
Mohammed Asif, a relative of the deceased, told NDTV that the 18 family members—Nasiruddin (70), Akhtar Begum (62), their son Salauddin (42), daughters Amina (44), Rizwana (38), Shabana (40) and their children—had travelled to Saudi Arabia eight days earlier. They had completed Umrah and were returning to Madinah. The family was scheduled to fly back to India on Saturday.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed deep condolences over the tragedy. In a statement, his office said that officials have been instructed to identify the victims, coordinate with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy, and arrange immediate assistance if required. Local authorities in Saudi Arabia have begun investigating the cause of the accident.
Saudi Arabia’s King and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has called on citizens to perform Salat al-Istisqa (the prayer for rain) across the Kingdom.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Court on Monday (10 November), the prayer will be held on Thursday, 22 Jumada al-Awwal 1447 Hijri, as per the Umm al-Qura calendar, in accordance with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The statement urged citizens to repent, seek forgiveness, and return to Allah. It also encouraged acts of charity, remembrance of God, regular prayers, and kindness toward others to attain divine mercy.
The Royal Court further emphasized that every able Muslim should join the prayer with humility and patience, seeking Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The statement concluded with a supplication asking Allah to show mercy to the people and the land, to accept their prayers, and to send rain as a source of goodness and compassion.