DHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS)– The government has promulgated an ordinance strengthening the regulatory framework for travel agencies, introducing up to one year’s imprisonment and fine up to TK 10 lakh for violations to ensure fair ticket pricing and protect passengers.

Issued by order of the President, the ordinance 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 said it was promulgated on January 1, 2026, and published for public information, adding that the amendments were necessary to ensure customer service, fair pricing, good governance in the aviation transport sector and to prevent harassment of passengers, including migrant workers, 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 and came into force immediately.

Under the ordinance, its provisions will prevail over any other law in matters relating to the registration, control and operation of travel agencies.

The amendment introduces stricter disclosure requirements, including detailed affidavits where agencies are registered in the names of family members, and mandates bank guarantees of TK 10 lakh for offline travel agencies and TK  one  crore for online travel agencies.

Travel agencies will be required to 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 also prohibits a range of malpractices, including illegal use of airline ticketing systems, sharing of login credentials, excessive fare collection, misleading advertisements, artificial ticket shortages, unauthorised ticket trading, and improper ticketing practices involving migrant workers.

In the public interest, the government has been empowered to temporarily suspend a travel agency’s registration certificate without prior hearing if deemed necessary.

Violations of the law or rules framed under it will constitute an offence punishable with up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine 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.