Dhaka: Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin today announced that the newly promulgated Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 2026, has significantly curtailed syndication and malpractice in the ticketing business by making unethical practices more difficult. He made these remarks at a press conference held at the Secretariat, marking the issuance of the ordinance.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser stated that the new legal framework brings airline operators, global distribution systems (GDS), new distribution capability (NDC), travel GSAs, and travel agents under a single accountability structure. ‘We have complicated the processes used for syndication so that those involved in malpractice can no longer operate easily,’ he said. Extensive consultations were held with stakeholders and experts to introduce maximum barriers against syndication.
Sheikh Bashir Uddin emphasized that his goal is not merely to reduce ticket prices but to rationalize them. Fares have already fallen by 40 to 50 percent but still remain unjustified. ‘Ticket prices should come down further to a reasonable level,’ he added. Bashir also mentioned that civil aviation authorities have been empowered to detect fake online bookings through digital systems and manual checks, with monitoring authority vested in the chairman of the civil aviation authority.
He expressed the belief that effective implementation of the ordinance will restore discipline in the travel agency sector, enhance consumer and migrant worker confidence, and create a transparent, accountable, and internationally compliant travel and tourism industry. At the press conference, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Nasreen Jahan read out a written statement detailing the provisions of the ordinance.
She explained that the gazette of the ordinance was published on January 1 following amendments to the Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013. The aim is to ensure customer service, fair ticket pricing, good governance in air transport, and protection of general passengers and expatriate workers. Between August and October 2025, several online travel agencies misappropriated large sums of money and fled abroad, while numerous complaints were received over fraud, misleading inducements, and excessive fares charged to migrant workers.
The ordinance introduces stronger consumer and migrant protection measures, including rationalization of ticket prices. Online travel agencies must maintain a bank guarantee of Tk 10 million due to their large transaction volumes and higher financial risks, while offline agencies are required to provide a Tk 1 million bank guarantee. It has been made mandatory to print the travel agency’s name, registration number, and actual ticket price on tickets to ensure transparency and accountability.
Blocking seats through fake bookings and sharing GDS login credentials have been declared punishable offenses. The ordinance requires agencies to source tickets directly from airlines or authorized platforms, eliminating multiple mark-ups and preventing artificial seat shortages created through syndication. Strict conditions have been imposed to ensure financial discipline, including barring loan defaulters from registration, requiring affidavits against fraudulent activity, and mandating disclosure of actual ownership and sources of funds. Registration renewal will be allowed every three years subject to satisfactory financial and operational reporting.
Penalties have been strengthened, with provisions for up to one year’s imprisonment, fines of up to Taka 1 million, or both. In serious cases, registration may be suspended or cancelled, and temporary travel restrictions may be imposed in the public interest in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.