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A wave of panic and uncertainty has gripped passengers traveling from Bangladesh to the United Kingdom as airport authorities continue to deny boarding to dozens of travelers holding valid visas, confirmed tickets, and complete documentation. Since January 30, scenes of frustration have become common at Sylhet Osmani International Airport and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, where students, dependents, and even Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) holders are being turned away at check-in counters.
The crisis has left passengers facing severe financial losses and emotional distress, with airline officials citing opaque "systematic errors" or sudden restrictions from the UK Home Office as the cause.
The Human Cost of Digital Disruption
The situation on the ground paints a grim picture of families separated and funds lost. Shafiqur Rahman, a passenger from Sylhet, recounted a harrowing experience where he and his wife arrived at the airport with identical visa statuses for a scheduled flight. While the check-in counter issued a boarding pass for his wife, Rahman was abruptly blocked from traveling without any specific reason provided. Forced to make a split-second decision to avoid total loss, his wife boarded the flight alone while he remained stranded in Bangladesh. As his ticket was non-refundable, Rahman has suffered a total financial loss alongside the emotional toll of separation.
Similar accounts are emerging from other hubs. A Manchester-bound expatriate reported that he was barred from boarding his flight on January 30 due to a generic "system error," even though his family members on the same booking were cleared to fly. Witnesses claim that between seven to ten passengers are being offloaded from flights daily, with the numbers rising as the confusion spreads.
Officials Point to Server Sync Failures
Airport authorities have distanced themselves from the glitch, attributing the chaos to external technical factors. The Director of Sylhet Osmani International Airport, Hafiz Ahmad, clarified that this is not an operational failure of the airport or Biman Bangladesh Airlines. He explained that the issue arises during the check-in process when the airline’s system attempts to verify passenger data against the British Home Office server. When the server fails to return a clearance signal, the airline is legally unable to issue a boarding pass. Ahmad has advised affected passengers to contact the British Home Office directly to resolve these status discrepancies.
Despite the escalating crisis, airline officials have remained largely silent. Attempts to reach the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Station Manager in Sylhet, Shakil Ahmad, went unanswered. Similarly, Riyad Sulaiman, the airline’s Country Manager for the UK and Ireland, could not be reached for comment regarding whether the airline has formally raised the issue with UK immigration authorities. Sources within Biman confirm that when the UK Home Office system flags a restriction, they have no choice but to offload the passenger.
The Root Cause: The Great eVisa Transition
Investigations into the recurring "system errors" point toward the United Kingdom’s massive overhaul of its immigration system. The UK government is currently in the process of digitizing its borders, aiming to phase out all physical visa documents, such as Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) cards, by December 31, 2024. The transition to a fully digital "eVisa" system appears to be the epicenter of the current disruption.
The conflict arises when passengers migrate from their physical BRPs to the new eVisa system but fail to link their new Bangladeshi passport details to their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account. When airline staff scan a passport, the interactive Advance Passenger Information (iAPI) system queries the UK database. If the passport number on hand does not match the digital record in the UKVI system, the server returns a "No Valid Visa" error, grounding the passenger instantly. This issue is not unique to Bangladesh; travelers from India, Pakistan, and Nigeria are reporting identical hurdles as the digitization process faces global teething issues.
Expert Advice on Navigating the Chaos
Legal experts and aviation insiders are urging travelers to take proactive measures to avoid being stranded. Barrister Salah Uddin Sumon, a prominent lawyer and head of Law Matic Solicitors in London, emphasized that relying solely on physical documents is no longer sufficient.
To ensure a smooth departure, passengers must log into their UKVI accounts at least 48 hours before their flight to confirm their immigration status is listed as "Live" or "Active." It is critical to verify that the passport number in the physical booklet matches the document number linked to the digital eVisa account; any new passport must be manually updated in the system immediately. Furthermore, while airlines use automated checks, travelers are strongly advised to generate a "Share Code" from the UK government website and carry a printed or digital copy to the airport. This code can sometimes allow airline staff to manually override a system error. Finally, if any doubt remains regarding visa status, passengers should contact the UK Home Office helpline prior to heading to the airport to prevent a last-minute crisis at the departure gate.
