Dhaka: The intending tourists to Malaysia are counting money six times higher than the fixed Tk 600, which is inscribed on the sticker.

There are allegations that Malaysian high commission in Dhaka appointed the organization called Visa Luar Negar (VLN). It is taking Taka 2,500 per visa.

Like many other countries Malaysia has entrusted their passport and visa documentation work to a private organization. But question arises about the transparency of the organization. VLN has been taking this excess money for the last two years.

On the other hand, the visa expectants alleged that from past August none was given multiple-visa that has shattered the hopes of the tourists who wants to visit several times. These people are to seek visa repeatedly that is helping the VLN financially.

Most of the tourists to Malaysia are Bangladeshis. Tourism Malaysia deputy director Mizan Rodji on February 13 said in Dhaka that in 2012 as many as 86,465 Bangladeshis toured the country. In 2013 there was enhancement of 55.7 % bringing the number to 1 lakh 34 thousand and 663. But the number has decreased in 2015, according to travel agents.

The travel agents alleged that they cannot directly deposit passport for processing to VLN. The high commission has nominated 24 agents. The nominated or selected agents can only deal with VLN. Recently permission of some travel agents has been cancelled in accusation of irregularities.

The system has become so much complicated that one has to go to four doors to go to Malaysia enhancing the cost manifold.

An agent wishing anonymity told banglanews, ‘We are asked to deposit Taka 3,100 per visa though the sticker bears the figure of Tk 600’.

Besides, Malaysia tourists in good number are visiting India and Thailand.

There are booths to deposit money in the selected visa centers. But to VLN, money is to deposit through bank draft of Tk 3,100.

‘For Thai visa we need to deposit Tk 3,440 but the sticker bears the figure of Tk 2,990. The selected organization takes Tk 450 as their fee. It is very much transparent. If anybody wants 2 entries and multiple-visa it is granted. Even the person can directly deposit their passport.

Intending tourists to Malaysia are facing lot of difficulties for stopping multiple-visa. One tourist Shahidul Islam opined that Indian visa costs only Tk 600 as fee and one can directly deposit to Indian high commission.

Sources said that some dishonest officials of Malaysian high commission in Dhaka have an underhand contract with VLN because they get some share of the excess money.

However, the officials of Malaysian high commission prefer to keep them from transparency. If anyone tries to talk to them about this alleged corruption they are returned back from the office reception.

BDST: 0835 HRS, DEC 13, 2015
Shahjahan/RR/SMS