Business Desk :
The parliament has approved an amendment to the existing law to allow travel agencies to shift their ownership and open branches at home and abroad.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali tabled the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control amendment) Bill 2020 which was approved through a voice vote, reports bdnews24.com.
After the state minister initially presented the bill on Sept 7, it was forwarded to the parliamentary standing committee on the civil aviation and tourism ministry for scrutiny. The bill paved the way for the travel agencies in Bangladesh to open their branches at home and abroad after getting approval from the government.
The existing law does not have an option to impose a fine on a travel agency but can revoke its registration or halt its business. The amended law will enable the authorities to impose a fine on them.
The amended law has a provision for six months in jail, a Tk 500,000 fine, or both for the delinquent agencies. The Penal Code will be applicable to such cases, according to the new law.
It also includes a clause barring the travel agencies from changing addresses without approval.
