Hajj, travel agencies demand cancellation of Travel Agency Ordinance 2025

The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) today demanded immediate cancellation of the Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Ordinance 2025.

The demand came from a human chain programme organised by ATAB Members' Welfare Unity Alliance in front of the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

Addressing the human chain, Mohammad Jalal Uddin Tipu, convener of the Unity Alliance, said the new ordinance -- prepared by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism by changing the existing law -- would shut down around 5,000 travel agencies in the country if it is implemented.

"As a result, owners, officials and employees would lose their jobs, which would adversely affect the entire sector and the national economy," he said.

Tipu also said, "Many of the amendment proposals in the new ordinance are not consistent with reality. In particular, the ban on buying and selling tickets through other agencies will make it difficult for small travel agencies to survive."

Most of the 5,000 agencies in the country do not have the capacity to issue tickets directly from airlines. Fulfilling the requirement of keeping Tk 10 lakh to Tk 1 crore as security deposit for online and offline operations is not possible for small agencies," he said.

The convener further said provisions such as limiting the operation of recruiting agents at one address and suspending licences without a hearing would render the sector dysfunctional.

He also said the country's existing laws allow licences for multiple businesses at the same address. Many recruiting and Hajj agencies have long been running travel businesses from the same office to provide ticketing services.

The organisation's member secretary, Mohammad Juman Chowdhury, said, "Many agencies collect tickets from bigger agencies to provide services to customers due to limited bank guarantees. If this is made a punishable offence, the way for general businesses will be blocked."

Former HAAB president Ibrahim Bahar, secretary general Farid Ahmed Mojumdar, former ATAB secretary general Aslam Khan, and ATAB Reform Council convener Gofran Chowdhury, among others, were present at the human chain.

After the human chain, a delegation led by the ATAB Members' Welfare Unity Alliance convener, submitted memorandums to the Chief Adviser's Office, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and the Ministry of Law.