Govt warns travellers against unregistered agencies after human trafficking allegations
The authorities urged travellers to verify the registration status and licence validity of agencies before purchasing airline tickets or tour packages.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has warned the public against dealing with unregistered travel agencies or those whose licences have expired, following allegations of human trafficking linked to a Bangladeshi firm reportedly sanctioned by the United Kingdom.
The ministry said in a statement issued today (10 May), the agency named in recent media reports is DREAM HOME TRAVELS, not Dream Home Travels and Tours Limited, clarifying confusion surrounding the identity of the accused company.
The clarification came after some media outlets published reports with titles similar to "UK sanctions Bangladeshi travel agency over 'human trafficking' to Russia."
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According to the ministry, an investigation, launched after a January 2025 report in a newspaper, found that the licence of DREAM HOME TRAVELS (certificate No 0012021), owned by MM Abul Hasan, had expired on 3 April 2021.
Officials said that under the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act 2013, all travel agencies must obtain and regularly renew government registration through the online Travel Agency Management System.
The ministry expressed concern that many agencies continue to operate despite expired registrations or without any authorisation, exposing customers to fraud, harassment and financial risks.
The authorities urged travellers to verify the registration status and licence validity of agencies before purchasing airline tickets or tour packages.
The ministry specifically advised the public to avoid financial transactions with unregistered or expired agencies to prevent potential scams and losses.
It said travellers can check agency registration information through the government's official Travel Agency Management System.
