Dhaka: Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin today announced that the government has implemented firm measures to tackle the abnormal rise in airfares and eliminate fraudulent practices within the ticketing sector. "Whoever is involved in the airfare syndicate will face strict action," he stated at a press briefing held at the commerce ministry's conference room.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser noted that while ticket prices typically fluctuate based on demand and season, certain unscrupulous businesses have been generating artificial shortages to charge higher fares from passengers. He assured that actions have already been initiated to curb such malpractice. Bashir urged passengers to buy tickets from licensed agencies with clearly printed selling prices and called on journalists to responsibly raise public awareness about these issues.
In response to inquiries, the adviser confirmed that legal proceedings had commenced against Flight Expert, an Online Travel Agency (OTA), implicated in fraudulent activities. During the briefing, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Nasrin Jahan revealed that immediate steps, legal amendments, and enhanced monitoring mechanisms are now in place to ensure transparency in ticket sales. "We are beginning to see positive changes following the measures," she remarked.
According to the ministry, the new measures include four directives requiring the mandatory mention of the travel agency's name, mobile number, and selling price on every ticket. Additionally, a task force has been formed, and instructions have been given to deputy commissioners to act against unlicensed agencies. There are also provisions for tax refunds on non-refundable tickets, amendments to relevant laws, and the development of an Online Travel Agency Management System (OTAMS).
Adviser Bashir conducted a visit to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) last evening to assess the effectiveness of the measures addressing airfare anomalies and irregularities. During his visit, he engaged with passengers to hear their concerns, as noted by the ministry in a press release. He subsequently convened a meeting with senior officials from relevant agencies, emphasizing the need to improve passenger service quality.
The meeting highlighted the necessity of enhancing mobile court operations by deploying additional magistrates, integrating mobile courts into Civil Aviation Rules, expediting services at the Expatriate Welfare Desk, and resolving manpower shortages at the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn).