For years together, Bangladesh’s travel agency sector has been a hub of harassment and fraud. Under the guise of the legal labour market, an illegal visa trade has flourished, not only harming migrant workers, but also denting the country’s image abroad. Every day, numerous ordinary people fall victim to brokers and dishonest travel agencies.
Investigations have revealed that forged documents, illegal money transfers through hundi, fake visas, and collusion with brokers have now become commonplace. A section of travel and recruiting agencies is directly involved in this business, as confirmed through discussions with victims and stakeholders.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, there are 6,008 active travel agencies in the country. Of these, 970 are IATA-accredited, and about 350 of them have permission to sell tickets for major airlines. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) reports that there are around 1,300 legal recruiting agencies currently in operation.
In contrast, 2,333 travel agencies’ registrations have expired, and another 1,556 have been blacklisted. By law, these cancelled agencies are not allowed to operate, but in reality their activities extend from the capital Dhaka to district towns. They are blatantly violating the law and undermining various government initiatives to curb fraud.
To prevent customer harassment and bring transparency to the sector, the government launched a fully online travel agency registration and renewal system on May 4. Under the new system, the application fees have been set at Tk 5,000, the registration fee at Tk 50,000, and VAT is mandatory. In Dhaka, applications must be processed within a maximum of 45 days, and stricter rules have been introduced for renewal.
The ministry hopes, this new system will help restore discipline in the sector. However, questions remain as to whether it will actually stop irregularities and illegal businesses.
Business owners express frustration
Businesspeople in the tourism sector have expressed disappointment over the future of the industry. They complain that the ministry is being run by inexperienced individuals, resulting in government initiatives failing to be implemented. As a result, the potential of the tourism industry is dashed.
They believe associations must be included at every stage of supervision, as associations are best placed to identify where the problems lie.
Mohammad Touha Chowdhury, owner of Al Marwa International and former Deputy Secretary General of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), said that online travel agencies are selling tickets under the guise of special discounts. Later, the owners embezzle crores of taka and go into hiding. As a result, travellers are cheated, while legitimate businesses struggle to survive.
He alleged that many travel agencies are operating with just a trade licence. Though appeals have been made to the government for action, no effective measures have been taken. According to him, some online travel agencies in an unholy nexus with airline companies to sell tickets 15–20% cheaper, and then disappear with crores of taka. This is eroding trust in legitimate agencies and pushing the entire industry to the brink. Ironically, instead of cracking down on such irregularities, the government has appointed an administrator in ATAB.
Former ATAB Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh, Managing Director of Simon Overseas Ltd., said that without proper policymaking, transparent supervision, and protection of legal institutions, Bangladesh’s tourism sector cannot progress. She alleged that many online travel agencies are ignoring regulations and forming syndicates around visas, business operations, and airline tickets. Unless a specific policy is made and proper action is taken against them, this sector could soon collapse.
According to her, when travel agencies step beyond their core business (such as travel planning, ticket booking, hotel booking, visa processing, and other travel-related services) and operate like recruiting agencies, customers inevitably get defrauded. If the recently published circular is properly implemented, stability could return to the travel sector.
ATAB raises alarming issues
The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh recently sent a complaint letter to Bangladesh Bank, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh highlighting widespread irregularities and mismanagement. Three major issues were raised.
Firstly, tickets of the same airline are being sold at lower prices using foreign airlines’ API, leading to illegal foreign currency transfers. Secondly, various online agencies are offering up to 5–6% cashback based on advance deposits or payments, siphoning off crores of taka from the market and posing risks to the financial sector. Thirdly, ticket syndicates are forcing customers to pay inflated fares.
Sources have pointed to irregularities in the activities of Flight Expert, Haltrip, www.24tkt.com, and Let’s Fly. The most recent case is Flight Expert, which sold tickets online and disappeared with several crores of taka.
Investigations also found that accounts can be easily opened with NID and TIN, and tickets purchased from online travel agencies under “special offers”.
ATAB questioned how these agencies were offering such high commission that regular agencies could not match, asking whether airlines themselves were deliberately destabilising the market or laundering illegal money.
Although most airlines use GDS for ticket sales in Bangladesh, some have shut down distribution channels, leading to higher fares and financial losses for passengers.
Speaking with travel businessmen revealed that agencies like East West, Kazi Air, Binimoy, and Bom JS have long been running group ticket syndicates, distorting competition and forcing customers to pay inflated prices.
Visa fraud and labour exploitation
Bangladesh’s travel and recruiting sectors have long been plagued by irregularities and fraud. Many people travel abroad on tourist visas but overstay or destroy their passports to apply for asylum, causing airlines and genuine passengers to suffer.
Work visas require BMET cards to pass airport immigration, yet allegations have surfaced that civil aviation and immigration police are complicit in allowing fake visas. In some cases, Gulf country visa providers deliberately cancel visas, forcing passengers to be deported. Airlines then pay penalties while the real culprits — the visa providers — escape accountability.
The so-called “three-month free visa” offered for Saudi Arabia is another trap. Sold as work visas, migrants are either caught and deported or forced to pay around Tk 400,000 for an iqama (residence permit). Recruiting agency owners allege travel agencies are directly involved in this scam.
H.M. Angel Overseas Ltd. owner Hasan Rubel said: “If customers do not approach government-approved recruiting agencies and instead try to go abroad on work visas through middlemen, they face both financial loss and fraud. Travel agencies should also refuse to process such files.”
He added that fraud rings are exploiting social media, Facebook pages, YouTube ads, and local brokers to scam rural and urban residents with fake work visas. Many workers end up in dire conditions abroad, often earning less than half of the promised salary. Some even face lawsuits after falling into the recruiting agencies’ traps.
Investigations have also revealed fraudulent practices at international airports, with some corrupt airport officials, Ansar personnel, police, and APBN members assisting broker rings in exchange for bribes.
Fraudulent visas for Russia, Serbia, Romania, Canada, Slovakia, Belize, and Belarus are widespread, with nearly 90% of European visas reportedly fake or forged. One shocking case involves Md. Moshiur Rahman, appointed in March 2021 as Belize’s Honorary Consul General in Bangladesh, who allegedly built an international fake visa syndicate with his wife, Dr. Rumana Afroz. Thousands lost everything falling into their trap.
Industry insiders argue that such scams persist because penalties are weak — just six months in jail or a fine of Tk 500,000. Without effective oversight and speedy trials, fraudulent rings have become nearly unstoppable.
BAIRA’s former Secretary General Ali Haider Chowdhury emphasised that law enforcement must play a proactive role, and people must also stay vigilant. Otherwise, fraud will continue.
Economy at risk
Bangladesh’s economy relies heavily on foreign remittances. In FY 2024–25, remittances stood at around USD 24 billion. But visa fraud, illegal agencies, and syndicates are putting this crucial sector at serious risk. If such fraud continues, Bangladesh risks losing its labour markets abroad and suffering long-term reputational damage.
Experts recommend shutting down all cancelled agencies, conducting regular raids against fraudulent offices and brokers, ensuring digital monitoring of every agency, and enforcing strict penalties for corruption at airports. They also stress the need to stop hundi-based money transfers and enforce banking channels for all transactions.
Veteran manpower exporter Akhtar Hossain Khan, Chairman of Neserabad Overseas, said: “Visa issuance must be transparent at every stage. Strengthening embassy and consulate-level scrutiny can significantly curb fake documents and visas. Migrant workers must also be educated to follow legal processes.”
ATAB under scrutiny
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce appointed an administrator for ATAB following allegations of corruption, financial irregularities, and administrative paralysis. The current executive committee has been accused of embezzlement and misuse of power, as well as failing to conduct fair elections. The administrator has been tasked with holding fresh elections within 120 days.
Government response
Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, assured that the government is taking strong measures to curb irregularities in ticket sales. “We are working to bring about discipline among travel agents and manpower exporters. There are about 5,000 registered travel agents and nearly 20,000 unregistered ones. Even grocery shop owners are acting as travel agents. Discipline must be restored,” he said.
He warned that licence cancellations and prison sentences will be enforced if necessary. He also hinted that management of Dhaka airport’s third terminal may be handed over to a foreign company through open tender if needed.
