Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) announced the recovery at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Sunday.

He said Saudi Arabia had returned 3,091,243 riyals, equivalent to approximately Tk 10.23 crore, which was deposited into the Nusuk system of the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah on October 29.

The amount had originally been withheld by Saudi authorities over medical treatment costs incurred by Bangladeshi pilgrims that were reportedly not covered by insurance.

Of the total deduction, 2,976,151 riyals were linked to 310 pilgrims who travelled under private management through Hajj agencies. Another 115,092 riyals had been deducted in connection with 30 pilgrims under the government-managed programme.

The minister said the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Jeddah took up the matter with the Saudi authorities after discovering the deductions. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the office conducted several rounds of discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and other relevant agencies.

Bangladesh presented the necessary records and supporting documents to challenge the deductions and seek reimbursement. Following the discussions and verification process, the Saudi authorities agreed to return the entire amount.

Kaikobad said such deductions had not occurred in previous Hajj seasons, making the recovery particularly significant. He described the outcome as an important step towards protecting pilgrims’ financial interests and conserving Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves.

The minister also disclosed that the government had refunded Tk 4,87,23,014 to 4,341 pilgrims from the surplus funds of the 2026 Hajj operations.

He said the refund initiative was part of broader efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of Hajj activities.

Religious Affairs State Minister Mohammad Shamim Kaiser, Ministry Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumder were present at the press briefing.