HAAB demands withdrawal of proposed Travel Agency Ordinance

The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), the apex body of the country’s Hajj and travel agency owners, has demanded withdrawal of ‘Bangladesh Travel Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 2025’ recently proposed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

The association claims that several provisions of the draft law are “impractical” and, if implemented, could force thousands of travel agencies out of business. The HAAB leaders warned the government of stringent movement if the government does not withdraw the draft law.
The warning was made at a press conference held on Sunday at a city hotel in Naya Paltan, Dhaka.
HAAB President Syed Golam Sarwar, Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumdar, senior HAAB leaders including Yakub Sharafati and Jumman Chowdhury were present along with other leaders.
Reading out the written statement, HAAB Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumdar said that Bangladesh currently has a total of 5,946 registered travel agencies, of which around 1,300 are members of HAAB. These agencies play a vital role in supporting the remittance-driven economy and are responsible for providing essential services to Bangladeshi Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The sector supports nearly 50,000 families, including agency owners, employees, and related workers.
However, the association alleges that a number of ‘irrational decisions’ have recently created instability in the sector. The new ordinance proposed for 2025 contains several clauses that, according to HAAB, could severely disrupt travel agency operations and cause large-scale unemployment.