FEPD Circular Letter No. FEPD(Remittance)44/2014-05: Performing Hajj Under Private Management-1435 Hijri Year

Bangladesh Bank
Chief Controller
Motijheel, Dhaka-1000
Bangladesh.
Website: www.bb.org.bd
Foreign Exchange Policy Department
Circular Letter No. FEPD(Remittance)44/2014-05 Date: 18-12-1420 B.E.
01-04-2014 A.D.
To
All Approved Dealer Banks engaged in Foreign Exchange Transactions Chief Controller / Principal Office.

Dear Sir,
Performing Hajj Under Private Management - 1435 Hijri Year.

In light of the "Hajj Package-2014 A.D./1435 Hijri" issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the following guidelines are provided for the release of foreign exchange to those wishing to perform Hajj under private management.

1. For performing Hajj in the year 1435 Hijri under private management, money must be deposited in the bank according to the following distribution:

S.No	Expense Head	Amount (BDT)
1.	(a) Airfare (Net) USD 1500 (1500 x 77.40)	1,16,100.00
	(b) Insurance Surcharge USD 10 (10 x 77.40)	774.00
	(c) Jeddah Departure Tax SAR 50 (50 x 21.00)	1,050.00
	(d) Embarkation Fee	300.00
	(e) Excise Duty	500.00
	(f) Hajj Terminal Services Charge SAR 30 (30 x 21.00)	630.00
	Subtotal	1,19,354.00
2.	Local Services Charge: ID Card, Belt, Kit Bag, Hajj & Umrah Companion Booklet, IT Services, Accommodation and Promotion at Hajj Camp, etc.	800.00
3.	Hajj Pilgrims' Welfare Fund (Emergency Fund)	200.00
4.	Training Fee	300.00
5.	Muwassem Fee: Tent rental in Mina-Arafat and transportation between Jeddah-Makkah-Medina and Al-Mashayeir, additional 1% seat rent as per instructions of the Royal Saudi Government, bank guarantee (refundable) payable to the Royal Saudi Government per Hajj pilgrim, services charge, Zamzam water, etc. SAR 1204 (1204 x 21.00)	25,284.00
6.	Food Expenses: As per instructions of the Royal Saudi Government, three meals a day must be supplied through a catering company in Saudi Arabia. Maximum food expenses for 42 days (Bilal) at the rate of SAR 35.00 per day for three meals a day. SAR 1470 (1470 x 21.00)	30,870.00
7.	Possible cost for supplying bags of size 56cm x 25cm x 45cm and same color	1,700.00
	Total (1+2+3+4+5+6+7)	1,78,508.00

(One Lakh Seventy-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Eight)

6. Additional services charge for Muwassem in Mina-Arafat as per Agency Package
7. House rent expenses in Makkah-Medina as per Agency Package
8. Qurbani expenses for Hajj pilgrims as per Agency Package
9. Hajj Guide expenses as per Agency Package

Note: The rate of USD 77.40 (Seventy-Seven Taka Seventy-Four Paisa) per Dollar and SAR 21.00 (Twenty-One Taka) per Saudi Riyal has been taken.

02. In addition to the official Hajj expenses, each Hajj pilgrim may carry foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 (Five Hundred).

03. As per instructions of the Royal Saudi Government, each Hajj agency must open its own bank account in Saudi Arabia and pay for accommodation and food through said account. Hajj agencies that do not open a bank account in Saudi Arabia as per the instructions of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) and do not pay for house/hotel rent and food through the bank will not receive approval from the Saudi Government to send Hajj pilgrims. Such activities must be conducted online. When remitting funds for accommodation and food to the said bank account, the list of concerned Hajj pilgrims must be deposited with the remitting bank. No other expenses besides approved Hajj expenses can be withdrawn from this account.

04. Foreign exchange can be issued based on an application in TM Form for a confirmed return air ticket and endorsement of an international passport under the existing system. No foreign exchange can be issued more than 2 (two) weeks prior to the travel date mentioned on the air ticket.

04. The designated dealer must ensure that the amount of foreign exchange is handed over only to the concerned Hajj pilgrim by taking the signature/thumb impression on the TM Form corresponding to the international passport.

You are requested to inform all concerned parties about the subject matter of this circular.

Enclosure: "Hajj Package-2014 A.D./1435 Hijri"

Yours faithfully,
(Md. Abdul Mannan)
Deputy General Manager
Phone: 9530319.