In a bid to strengthen governance, transparency, and accountability in Bangladesh’s aviation and travel sectors, the Advisory Council on Thursday approved draft versions of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance 2025.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat, Civil Aviation and Tourism Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin said over 80% of air passengers in Bangladesh are migrant workers, highlighting the importance of protecting their rights. “The two ordinances aim to ensure transparency, good governance, and accountability in the aviation and travel agency sectors,” he added.
The ordinances introduce strict measures against ticket manipulation, price rigging, and fraudulent practices, ensuring fair pricing and safeguarding passenger rights, particularly for migrant workers. They also aim to modernize and elevate the tourism sector to international standards.
Key provisions of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 include:
Incorporating the term “passenger service assurance” into the law for the first time, legally mandating the protection of passengers’ safety, comfort, and rights.
Optional appointment of General Sales Agents (GSA) for foreign airlines, aligning with international best practices, while domestic airlines are also permitted to appoint GSAs.
Mandatory registration of Global Distribution Systems (GDS), New Distribution Capability (NDC), and API-based digital channels to prevent ticket blocking, artificial scarcity, and price manipulation.
Introduction of tariff submission and monitoring for air operators.
Authorization for authorities to adopt sustainable aviation fuel usage and eco-friendly operations to reduce carbon emissions.
Empowering the government to establish a Civil Aviation Economic Commission to ensure financial transparency and fair pricing of airport fees, charges, and fares.
Promotion of AI, blockchain, and digital systems for cybersecurity and frontier technology integration.
Alignment with the Chicago Convention, ICAO standards, and global governance practices to enhance Bangladesh’s competitiveness in international aviation.
The Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance 2025 targets illegal financial transactions, ticket hoarding, fraud, and revenue evasion, with a particular focus on protecting migrant workers. It introduces 11 new grounds for suspension or cancellation of registration and criminalizes practices such as illegal ticket sales, overcharging, unauthorized transactions, creation of artificial shortages, third-country ticket trading, and altering passenger details after group bookings.
The ordinance provides for strict penalties, including fines up to Tk 10 lakh and imprisonment up to one year, depending on the severity of the offense. Authorities are empowered to temporarily suspend the registration of travel agencies or impose restrictions on individuals involved in fraudulent or financial irregularities.
Sheikh Bashiruddin emphasized that the new legislations would promote good governance, transparency, and accountability, protect passenger rights, and uphold international standards in Bangladesh’s aviation and travel sectors.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Nasreen Jahan also spoke at the briefing.
