Dhaka: The government has promulgated an ordinance strengthening the regulatory framework for travel agencies, introducing up to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of up to TK 10 lakh for violations to ensure fair ticket pricing and protect passengers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ordinance, issued by order of the President, amends the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013 and was signed by Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury. The ordinance was promulgated on January 1, 2026, and published for public information, highlighting the necessity of amendments to ensure customer service, fair pricing, good governance in the aviation transport sector, and to prevent passenger harassment by offline and online travel agencies.
As Parliament remains dissolved, and immediate action was deemed necessary, the ordinance was issued under Article 93(1) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, coming into force immediately. The provisions of this ordinance will take precedence over any other law concerning the registration, control, and operation of travel agencies.
The amendment introduces stricter disclosure requirements, including detailed affidavits for agencies registered in family members’ names, and mandates bank guarantees of TK 10 lakh for offline travel agencies and TK one crore for online travel agencies. Travel agencies must submit annual financial statements and comprehensive activity reports to the government, with registration certificates to be renewed every three years upon satisfactory review.
The ordinance prohibits a range of malpractices, including illegal use of airline ticketing systems, sharing of login credentials, excessive fare collection, misleading advertisements, artificial ticket shortages, unauthorized ticket trading, and improper ticketing practices involving migrant workers. In the public interest, the government is empowered to temporarily suspend a travel agency’s registration certificate without prior hearing if necessary.
Violations of the law or rules framed under it will constitute an offence punishable with up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to TK 10 lakh, or both. The ordinance further allows for the imposition of travel bans on concerned persons of travel agencies, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs, to prevent sudden departure from the country in cases involving fraud, corruption, or urgent related matters. The government may issue directives to the regulatory authority from time to time, which the authority will be bound to follow.