The Bangladesh Tour Operators and Tour Guides (Registration and Operation) Bill, 2021 also aims at ensuring the best services for the tourists and thus giving a boost to the potential tourism sector.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali moved the bill, which was passed by voice vote in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS).
The new law allows foreign tour operators to do business in Bangladesh and makes it mandatory for the local companies to obtain licences from the authorities concerned.
It also has a provision for a maximum of six-month imprisonment and a compensation of Tk 200,000 in case of violation of the law.
The tour operators have long been doing business in the country without any licence, and there are allegations that they were often cheating the tourists due to absence of necessary regulations for this business.
From now on, no operator will be allowed to do business without registration, and if anyone tries it, he/she would have to face a trial under the code of criminal procedure, according to the law.
It defines that a person who stays away from his/her normal residential areas for recreation or business purposes up to one year will be treated as a tourist.
As per the new law, a trade licence, tax identification number (TIN) and office address will be required to apply for a licence.
For a more structured company, articles of association, memorandum of association and certificate of incorporation will have to be submitted along with the application for the licence.
After the application is granted, the licence will be delivered within 15 days. If not granted, the authorities concerned will inform the applicant. The applicant can, however, apply for a review.
The tour operators will have to renew their licences every three years by depositing required fees.
The operators will have to inform the tourists about their services and offers in writing and must comply with it.
If any operator fails to execute any scheduled tour or programme or visit, they will have to pay back the charges taken for it.
If the operator violates any of the provisions of the law, it will be treated as a criminal offence.
Meanwhile, the parliament passed another bill titled "The Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021" to facilitate increasing the authorised and paid-up capitals of the state-run institution and expand its scope of work.
With the amendment, the authorised capital of the BHBFC will be Tk 10 billion and the paid-up capital Tk 5.0 billion.
It was moved by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
The bills were passed with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
