Dhaka: The Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 has been passed in the parliament, keeping a provision of a maximum of six months imprisonment or BDT 5 lac fine or both in the case of violation of any provision under the proposed law.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali moved the bill and it was passed by voice vote on January 25.

The bill has a provision saying that a travel agency can renew its license within six months even after the expiry of the stipulated time on payment of a penalty, can open branch offices at home and abroad, and hand over its ownership.

It also says if any travel agency works as a recruiting agency, it will be an offense and the travel agency will be fined for doing so.

“If any travel agency wants to deal with visa or recruitment, it will have to take separate licenses to do that.”

The draft bill included the provisions of ownership transfer and the establishment of branches outside the country considering the global perspective of the business.