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New travel status symbol

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, September 28th 2025 at 19:56 GMT by The Daily Star
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Bangladesh Unveils a New “Travel Status Symbol” to Signal Health Credentials on International Flights

In a move aimed at normalising global travel after the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Government of Bangladesh has announced the launch of a new “Travel Status Symbol” (TSS). The symbol, a digital QR‑code‑style badge that appears on a passenger’s boarding pass, is intended to provide an at‑a‑glance verification of a traveller’s health credentials—vaccination status, recent test results or a negative health‑certificate scan. The policy, unveiled by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in a joint statement, is scheduled to roll out for all international departures from the country by the end of 2025.

The Genesis of the Symbol

When the COVID‑19 pandemic erupted in 2020, Bangladesh, like the rest of the world, imposed stringent travel restrictions. Airlines were forced to implement ad‑hoc screening procedures: paper health declarations, manual test‑result checks and in‑flight temperature checks. As countries began to relax their border controls, the need for a standardised, verifiable way to communicate a passenger’s health status became evident.

“The Travel Status Symbol is the next logical step in ensuring that Bangladeshi travellers can re‑enter the world safely and with confidence,” said Dr. Md. Taqi Uddin, Director General of the MoHFW. “It also gives airlines and airport authorities a reliable, tamper‑proof way of confirming that a passenger meets the destination country’s entry requirements.”

The symbol’s design was the product of an inter‑ministerial working group that consulted with several stakeholders—including the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), major airlines such as Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and tech firms that specialize in secure data transmission. The TSS is expected to be integrated into the country’s existing e‑Health Pass platform, a digital repository that already holds vaccination records, PCR test results and other medical documents.

How the TSS Works

When a traveller is booked on an international flight, the airline’s reservation system will prompt the passenger to link their health data to the TSS. The system will generate a unique QR code that is embedded in the boarding pass. This code can be scanned by airline staff or the destination country’s border control officials to instantly verify:

1. Vaccination Status – Full coverage with WHO‑approved vaccines.
2. Recent Negative Test – PCR or rapid antigen test performed within the last 72 hours.
3. Health Certificate – Official documentation from a licensed medical practitioner confirming the absence of any communicable disease.

The TSS will also include a time stamp and a cryptographic hash to prevent tampering. If a passenger’s health status changes (e.g., a new test result comes in), the code can be updated in real‑time, and the boarding pass will reflect the latest information.

International Precedents

Bangladesh’s initiative mirrors efforts in the European Union (EU), where the Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) has become a cornerstone of the continent’s border‑control system. The EU’s DCC, issued by member states, enables travellers to prove they are vaccinated, recovered or have a negative test result via a QR code. Similarly, India’s “Arogya Setu” app, along with the new “Digital Health Pass,” has been adopted by several countries in the region to validate travellers.

“We’re looking at best practices from around the world and adapting them to Bangladesh’s unique healthcare and regulatory landscape,” explained Mr. Saifur Rahman, Deputy Director General of BCAA. “Our TSS will be fully interoperable with the EU DCC and other international health‑passport standards.”

Stakeholder Reactions

The policy has received mixed reactions. Airline operators, who have been under pressure from passengers demanding faster boarding processes, welcomed the TSS as a way to streamline pre‑flight checks. “The TSS will drastically cut down on the manual verification time at our gates,” said Biman’s Managing Director, Mr. Farah Khan. “It will also reduce the workload for our security staff.”

On the other hand, privacy advocates voiced concerns about the collection and storage of personal health data. The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), a non‑profit watchdog, cautioned that the TSS must be backed by strict data‑protection laws. “The TSS system should adhere to GDPR‑style principles—data minimisation, purpose limitation and clear user consent,” said Dr. Nafees Alam, director of DRF.

The Ministry of Health has promised that all data will be stored on a secure, government‑managed server, with third‑party audits to ensure compliance. “We are fully committed to protecting citizens’ privacy while facilitating safer international travel,” said Dr. Uddin.

Implementation Timeline and Challenges

The government’s timeline envisions a phased rollout:

• Phase I (Q4 2023 – Q2 2024): Pilot testing with Biman and a handful of international carriers.
• Phase II (Q3 2024 – Q1 2025): Inclusion of private airlines such as NovoAir and international carriers with flights to Bangladesh.
• Phase III (Q2 2025 – Q4 2025): Full nationwide adoption across all international gateways (Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet).

The MoC has identified a few technical and logistical hurdles that must be addressed. The primary challenge lies in ensuring that all airlines have the necessary infrastructure to integrate the TSS into their reservation systems. Training for airport staff on scanning and interpreting the codes will also be crucial. Additionally, there is a need for a robust verification mechanism for destination countries that may not yet be compatible with the TSS format.

Looking Ahead

Once fully operational, the Travel Status Symbol could set a new standard for health‑safe travel from Bangladesh. By harmonising with international health‑passport frameworks, the symbol promises to reduce the bureaucratic friction that has plagued the industry for the past three years.

“Bangladesh is ready to lead by example,” said Mr. Rahman. “Our TSS will help restore confidence in international air travel, stimulate tourism, and position our aviation sector as a beacon of innovation and safety in the region.”

Travelers and airlines alike will be watching closely as the rollout unfolds. While the TSS offers a promising path toward safer, more efficient border crossings, its success will ultimately hinge on seamless integration, robust data protection, and cross‑border cooperation among regulators, airlines and health authorities.