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Refusal by international airlines to accept the fare fixed by the government might force many people to drop their Hajj pilgrimage plan this year.
Sources at different Hajj agencies across the country said an enhanced plane fare would force many people to drop their Hajj pilgrimage plan this year.
The government has fixed plane fare at US$ 900 for Dhaka-Jeddah-Dhaka route for performing Hajj this year.
International airline operators said that they would not be able to accept the fare set by the government of Bangladesh.
Saudia and other leading operators set the fare at $1350 this year against the backdrop of price hike of petroleum products, both in local and international markets.
Representatives of different international airline operators held a meeting with the minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammed Nasir Uddin Monday at the conference room of the ministry.
The State Minister presided over the meeting while representatives from Saudia, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, PIA, Thai Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Air, Qatar Air, Singapore Airways, Yemen Air attended the meeting.
Sources at the civil aviation ministry said that they were not sure about the number of non-ballottee pilgrims performing Hajj this year. "Some 2500 ballottee pilgrims have so far registered with the ministry", the source said.
Sources said that the number of non-ballottee pilgrims would be three to four times higher than the ballottee pilgrims.
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