S. N. Monjur Murshed Mahbub, former President of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) said 'Proposed 'Travel Agency Registration and Control Ordinance-2025' as 'black law' that threatens to destroy thousands of businesses and strip millions of their livelihoods”.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday afternoon jointly organised by ATAB, Hajj Agency Association Of Bangladesh (HAAB) and Bangladesh Association Of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) at a capital's hotel, he said this.

He said, "Around 12 to 14 lakh people are directly involved with our travel agency sector," he said. "And if we calculate indirectly, then almost 25 to 30 lakh people depend on the entire travel and tourism industry for their livelihoods."

Draft law proposes limiting licensed travel agencies to between 250 and 300 companies, a move Mahbub described as a 'black law'. Currently, nearly 10 thousand licensed companies operate legally across Bangladesh.

He warned, "If these 10 thousand companies are forced to shut down, then a handful of five, seven, or ten large companies will show their financial strength, hundreds or thousands of crores, and take over the licenses," 

He questioned whether foreign companies would ultimately control Bangladesh's ticketing business whilst government revenue suffers.

The industry leader also criticised the government's stakeholder consultation process. "We do not know who has been identified as stakeholders and by what process they were selected," he said. 

He stressed that genuine stakeholders are those directly involved in the business, not ministry officials performing administrative duties.

Mahbub argued that organisations including ATAB, HAAB, BAIRA and route-operating agencies must be included in discussions, particularly since routing agencies will become mandatory under the proposed rules.

"Everyone in Bangladesh has the right to equal opportunity in business," he said. "But with this black law, only 100 or 200 companies will be allowed to operate, whilst the rest will be forced to close their businesses. This is not a law for the people; this is a law to protect the interests of a small group."

"Let me make it absolutely clear, no ATAB member will ever accept this black law in any form," Mahbub concluded.

Industry representatives are seeking resolution through dialogue but warned of broader protests if talks fail.