A vested group has allegedly been pocketing a large amount of money from Malaysia-bound students by forcing them to buy return tickets illegally.
Return tickets are not required to enter Malaysia with worker visa and student visa. Bangladeshi students studying in Malaysia do not usually need the return tickets because they carry visa of short duration, ranging from six to twelve months.
Generally, students or workers do not return home within that short period. The syndicate takes the advantage of this fact and they cancel the tickets as soon as the students and workers reach Malaysia.
Sources said some corrupt officials of different airlines and travel agencies steal the money by cancelling the tickets after the students enter the country, while the students remain none the wiser.
There five airlines – Bangladesh Biman, Regent Airways, Air Asia, Malaysian Airlines and Malindo Air – that run a total of 63 flights on the Bangladesh-Malaysia route every week, carrying about 100 students every day.
Considering the cost of return tickets - which is around Tk15,000 - the syndicate gobbles up about Tk15 lakh each day from the students.
Some corrupt officials of different airlines and travel agencies steal the money by cancelling the tickets after the students enter the country, while the students remain none the wiser
Among these airlines, only Malindo does not ask for return ticket to issue a boarding pass. They just ensure whether the Malaysia-bound student carries the required endorsed money.
Rahat Ahmed, a student of International Islamic University, Malaysia, said: “When I was leaving Bangladesh, I was told that a return ticket was mandatory to ensure my entrance there. But I cannot use the ticket because my visa is for six months.”
Malaysian City University student Kabir Ahmed said: “I went to Malaysia with a return ticket of Malaysian Airlines. A year later, when I tried to visit home during a vacation, the airlines informed me that my ticket had expired. I was informed of it beforehand and I don't know how it happened.”
An airlines official, requesting anonymity, said some consultancy firms and travel agencies force students to buy return tickets by saying that Malaysian immigration would restrict their entrance without it.
In this regard, Regent Airways Assistant General Manager KM Jafar-uj Jaman said: “Return ticket is only required for the tourists. No return ticket is needed for students or workers. But several agencies are supposedly deceiving students by saying they need it.”
Station Manager at Malindo, Khaleda Rumi, agreed with Jaman. “We only check if the students are carrying enough cash to buy return tickets if the Malaysian immigration send them back.”
Meanwhile, some travel agencies alleged that the airline authorities do not issue boarding pass without return tickets and this is why the Malaysia-goers have to face difficulties while boarding.
Executive Magistrate at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Mohammad Yusuf said: “No return ticket is required for student visa in any country of the world. Why is it needed for our students? Many irregularities have taken place in the meantime here and we have been able to trace those. It is the proper time to stop such malpractice.
“We have discussed the matter with different airlines authorities and finally taken a decision that they will check if a student is carrying endorsed cash of $250. They cannot demand return ticket.”
The magistrate further said: “The Bangladesh Biman authorities on June 12 forwarded the memo to all related parties and we requested the other airliners to brief their handling staff of the decision. If any airliner demands return ticket illegally despite the move, stern action will be taken against them. We will also cancel the licence of any travel agency that issues return ticket illogically for student visa.”