Bangladesh Bank has expanded access to international card payments for tickets sold by foreign airlines operating in the country. Bangladeshi citizens with valid visas may now use international cards to buy tickets for overseas travel. Previously, the facility was available only when ticket-sale proceeds were settled through an authorized dealer bank in Bangladesh. A valid visa will now be sufficient. The central bank issued a circular on Monday.
The new directive says the facility will also apply when foreign airlines settle ticket-sale proceeds outside Bangladesh through their established international acquiring and payment settlement systems. It will cover tickets sold by 17 foreign airlines operating in Bangladesh. Banks will identify eligible purchases through the merchant category codes of the airlines concerned.
The circular also says ticket prices paid under the facility will remain outside the travel quota limit. After verifying an eligible ticket purchase, banks may restore or refill the amount spent to the customer’s international card. This will depend on arrangements under the bank’s existing relationship with the customer. Banks have also been instructed to report such transactions to Bangladesh Bank through the prescribed reporting system.
People familiar with the matter said the change would reduce the need for foreign airlines to make separate arrangements with local acquiring banks in Bangladesh to settle ticket-sale proceeds. It would also make online ticket sales easier.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report