Travel Ordinance Sparks Alarm; Industry Warns 5,000 Agencies Face Closure
Leaders of Bangladesh’s travel agency industry have warned that the newly issued Travel Agency Registration and Control Ordinance–2026 could devastate the sector, potentially forcing nearly 5,000 travel agencies to shut down unless the law is withdrawn.
At a press conference held on January 4 at the National Press Club, industry representatives strongly criticised the ordinance, calling it “anti-business” and describing it as a “black ordinance” that threatens the survival of the country’s travel trade. They urged the government to repeal the law immediately to prevent what they said could be a widespread collapse of the industry.
Former Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) President Manzur Morshed Mahbub said the ordinance, gazetted on January 1, introduces multiple new sections and clauses that would effectively cripple travel agency operations. According to a press release, he specifically pointed to an amended affidavit under clause (kha) of sub-section (umo) of section 4 of Act No. 61 of 2013, which bans the buying and selling of airline tickets between travel agencies.
Mahbub explained that although there are around 5,800 registered travel agencies in Bangladesh, only about 800 hold International Air Transport Association (IATA) membership. “Nearly 5,000 agencies lack the capacity to issue tickets on their own,” he said. “If they are barred from sourcing tickets from other agencies, they will be unable to serve passengers or meet the mandatory annual turnover of Tk 5 million required for licence renewal, forcing them out of business.”
Mohammad Jalal Uddin Tipu, Convener of the ATAB Members’ Welfare Unity Alliance, drew attention to another provision requiring offline travel agencies to submit a bank guarantee of Tk 1 million. He said many agencies have been unable to secure IATA membership due to financial limitations and would also struggle to comply with the new bank guarantee requirement.
Industry leaders also objected to a proposed restriction on operating recruiting agencies and travel agencies from the same premises. They argued that such a rule would raise operational costs and increase per-capita expenses for outbound migrant workers, who often rely on combined services offered from a single location.
Expressing further concern, the speakers highlighted a new clause under section 9 that empowers the government to temporarily suspend a travel agency’s registration without providing a prior hearing. They warned that the absence of due process could open the door to harassment and cause serious financial harm to businesses.
In addition, the leaders opposed proposed amendments to section 11 that would double the maximum jail term from six months to one year and raise fines from Tk 300,000 to Tk 1 million. They said the existing penalties were adequate and urged the authorities to maintain the current framework.
Reiterating their demand for the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance, the travel sector representatives warned that thousands of agency owners, employees and their families face an uncertain future if the law remains in force.