The Association of Travel Agents, Bangladesh (ATAB) has demanded permanent expulsion of members of ticket syndicates from air ticket business urging the government to take effective steps to curb abnormal rise in airfares and artificial seat shortages they are creating.
ATAB made at an online discussion titled "Conspiracy Against ATAB and Action Against Air Ticket Syndicates" held on Wednesday night chaired by ATAB President Abdus Salam Aref and moderated by Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh.
In the meeting, ATAB leaders alleged that certain unscrupulous groups within the travel trade system have formed syndicates to manipulate ticket prices causing serious suffering to passengers.
They claimed that the group members are now spreading false and misleading information against the legitimately elected ATAB committee through social media, digital platforms, and even mainstream media.
In some instances, they are directly issuing threats compliant members. Speakers in the meeting said "Ticket syndicate is a dishonest cartel engaging in black marketing and hoarding air tickets to create artificial crises and earn excessive profit."
Their licenses must be revoked they demanded adding strict legal action must be taken against them.
They noted after issuance of a government circular to curb ticket syndication, they have lost their monopoly and now desperately trying to regain the market control. As part of this effort, they have launched fraudulent campaigns against current ATAB's leadership.
Key figures spoke at the event included ATAB Vice President Mohammad Ziaur Rahman Khan Rezwan, former Executive Vice President and current Executive Committee member Alhaj H.M. Mujibul Haque Shakur, former Secretary General Jinnur Ahmed Chowdhury Dipu, Deputy Secretary Dewan Rushu Chowdhury, Toaha Chowdhury and Didarul Huq among others.
ATAB members in the meeting strongly condemned the ongoing conspiracies and called for united resistance against syndicate members. They urged the authorities to take immediate action to ensure transparency and equal opportunity in travel business.
The ATAB committee also appealed to the media to act responsibly and avoid spreading misleading propaganda, emphasizing that they continue commitment to protecting the interests of travel trade and upholding the country's image.
ATAB is the only trade organization recognized with the Ministry of Commerce-ministry representing licensed travel agencies.
Since establishment in 1976, ATAB has been working to safeguard the interests of nearly 4,000 registered travel agents and plays a key role in aviation and tourism policy formulation in collaboration with the government.
