Dhaka, Jan. 19 -- Less than 50 per cent of Bangladeshi pilgrims have completed registration against the quota set for the country this year until Wednesday deadline.

As per the government's hajj management web portal, a total of 53,115 pilgrims completed registration until the filing of this report at 8:30 pm.

Of those who want to be on the pilgrimage, 3,802 have so far been enlisted under government arrangements, while 49,313 under private agencies.

When asked, sources at the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh said the high-priced special package mostly discouraged many Bangladeshis to perform hajj this year.

"The general package offers potential pilgrims a reasonable rate, but the inconvenience of staying a long distance from t...