Bangladesh's immigration authorities are facing mounting scrutiny after allegations emerged that officials at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka have been routinely subjecting unmarried women to intrusive questioning about their personal lives, travel companions, and reasons for travelling abroad — and in at least one documented case, blocking them from boarding altogether. The practice, reportedly widespread, came to a head when three young women were stopped from flying to Nepal and forced to return home, prompting a legal battle that has now reached the Bangladesh High Court.

What Happened at Shahjalal Airport

On 8 August, three adult friends — Rifa Tamanna, Sohani Islam Samapti, and Naznin — arrived at Shahjalal International Airport with valid travel documents, no criminal cases against them, and their families' consent, intending to travel to Nepal. An immigration officer, according to reports, refused to allow them to proceed on the grounds that they had no male companion and none of them was married. All three were turned back from the airport.

The incident drew immediate condemnation. The women subsequently pursued every available official channel before turning to the courts.

The Legal Escalation

On 31 August, the three women submitted a written complaint to the Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Immigration Branch, demanding that CCTV footage from the incident be preserved, that those responsible be held accountable, and that compensation be provided. When the police took no action within a month, the women sent a formal legal notice on 6 September. Receiving no response to that either, they filed a writ petition with the High Court on 15 September, naming the officer-in-charge of the Immigration Police as a respondent.

High Court Issues Rule, Demands Compliance

During a hearing on Tuesday, a bench comprising Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Fatema Anwar issued a formal rule questioning 'why preventing adult female citizens from legally travelling abroad solely because they are unmarried, travelling without a guardian or on gender-based grounds should not be declared to be without lawful authority.' The court additionally directed the Additional IGP to dispose of the women's complaint within seven days and submit a compliance report.

The three women's lawyer, Ishrat Hasan, was unequivocal about the legal position. 'Police cannot prevent anyone from travelling abroad without a court order or a criminal case. If an adult woman has a valid passport, the police have no scope to see whether her family has given consent or not,' Hasan said, according to reports.

A Deeper Social Problem, Experts Say

Legal advocates and former officials say the airport incident is a symptom of entrenched gender bias rather than an isolated lapse. Former Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam told the Times of Bangladesh, 'This society is not women-friendly. When police see a woman traveling alone at night, they approach her in a way that she is a bad woman. If a young woman returns home at night, another woman may also make negative comments. These stereotypes exist within our society itself.'

This comes amid broader concerns in South Asia about discriminatory enforcement practices that disproportionately affect women at points of entry and exit. Notably, Bangladesh has no legal provision requiring a woman to travel with a male guardian — making the immigration officer's reported conduct not merely discriminatory, but arguably ultra vires.

What Happens Next

The Bangladesh High Court is now awaiting a compliance report from the Immigration Branch within seven days. The case is being watched by rights organisations as a potential landmark ruling that could formally prohibit gender-based travel restrictions at Bangladeshi airports. Whether the government responds with systemic reform — or treats the case as an isolated administrative matter — will determine the ruling's long-term impact on women's mobility rights in the country.