SIXTY-ONE passengers disappeared from a Malaysia-bound flight at Bangladesh's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after leaving the terminal without boarding as authorities stepped up checks on travel documents following the discovery of suspected fake and altered visas.
The missing passengers were noted after immigration officials and airline authorities stopped 15 fellow passengers on the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight departing from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on July 4 night from traveling over fake or tampered visas, The Business Standard reported.
The incident occurred on 4 July when immigration officials and airline authorities prevented 15 passengers from travelling on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight after detecting suspected irregularities in their visa documents.
Ten passengers were removed from the aircraft before departure, while another five were stopped from proceeding through the boarding gate.
The flight eventually departed for Malaysia with 212 passengers instead of the 288 travellers who had originally checked in.
Airport officials said many of the 61 passengers who failed to board are believed to have left the airport after becoming aware that authorities had increased scrutiny of travel documents following the detection of falsified or manipulated visas and other paperwork.
Under normal airport procedures, passengers check in their luggage and receive boarding passes before proceeding to immigration clearance, where officials verify passports, visas and other travel requirements.
Those who clear immigration are then permitted to proceed to the departure gates for boarding.
An airport official told Bangladeshi news outlet bdnews24 that authorities remain particularly vigilant on Malaysia-bound flights due to previous cases where travellers holding apparently valid visas were denied entry upon arrival in Malaysia and subsequently deported.
The heightened checks reflect ongoing efforts by authorities to prevent irregular migration, document fraud and misuse of international travel routes. - July 8, 2026
