Bangladesh Bank expands international card use for foreign airline tickets

Bangladesh Bank has issued a revised circular expanding the ability of Bangladeshi citizens with valid visas to purchase air tickets from foreign airlines using international debit and credit cards.

Under the new regulations, the facility applies even if foreign airlines settle ticket sales through their established international acquiring and payment settlement systems outside of Bangladesh. Previously, the facility was only applicable if the settlement was handled through an Authorized Dealer (AD) bank within the country.

This update affects 17 foreign airlines operating in Bangladesh. The cost of tickets purchased under this provision will fall outside the standard travel limit. Authorized Dealer banks will identify eligible transactions using the relevant Merchant Category Code (MCC) and are instructed to report these transactions to the central bank. Industry stakeholders noted that this move simplifies online ticket sales and reduces the need for foreign airlines to establish separate local acquiring arrangements in Bangladesh.