The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) is collaborating with the government to control the high prices of air tickets and eliminate the ticket syndicate.
ATAB has been representing nearly 4,000 registered travel agents in Bangladesh since 1976, and it works for the welfare of all its members. The organization also actively cooperates with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and other relevant government bodies to ensure the proper development of the aviation and tourism sectors in the country.
According to sources within ATAB, the current executive committee has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against ticket syndicates, black market practices, and the hoarding of tickets without passenger names. In relation to this, one of ATAB’s members, the owner of Nodia Travels and Tours, Mr. Shobuj Munshi, has received a notice from the government’s high-powered investigation committee, asking him to explain why his license should not be revoked. The notice pertains to allegations of ticket syndication, booking tickets without passenger names, hoarding tickets, creating artificial shortages, and selling tickets at inflated prices. An investigation is ongoing against him.
The sources further mention that due to his position as a member of ATAB’s executive committee, Mr. Shobuj Munshi sought assistance from the committee’s president, general secretary, and other members to be relieved of these issues. However, because of ATAB’s current zero-tolerance policy against unethical practices, he did not receive any support, and he has been informed that he will not receive any in the future. Following this, Mr. Munshi has been spreading false, misleading, and defamatory information about the executive committee of ATAB on social media and in newspapers.
Additionally, ATAB’s current committee has taken a strong stance against the high prices of air tickets and the syndicates involved in selling block tickets without passenger names. The organization is providing full cooperation to the government in regulating ticket prices and dismantling the ticket syndicates.
