ATAB Demands Permanent Expulsion of Ticket Syndicate from Travel Trade

Staff Correspondent

The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) has demanded the permanent expulsion of ticket syndicates from the travel trade, urging the government to take effective steps to curb the abnormal rise in airfares and artificial seat shortages created by such syndicates.

ATAB made the call during an online discussion meeting titled “Conspiracy against ATAB and Action against Air Ticket Syndicates” held on Wednesday evening. The session was chaired by ATAB President Abdus Salam Aref and moderated by Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh.

During the meeting, ATAB leaders alleged that certain unscrupulous groups within the travel trade have formed syndicates to manipulate ticket prices, thereby causing serious suffering to passengers. They also claimed that these groups 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, threats have been issued directly.

Speakers at the meeting stated, “The ticket syndicate is a dishonest cartel engaging in black marketing and hoarding to create artificial crises and profit excessively. Their licenses must be revoked, and they must face strict legal action.”

They further noted that after the issuance of a government circular aimed at curbing syndication, these syndicates lost their monopoly and are now desperately trying to regain market control. As part of this effort, they have launched conspiratorial campaigns against ATAB’s current leadership.

Key figures who 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, and Toaha Chowdhury, Didarul Huq and among others.

ATAB members at the meeting expressed strong condemnation of the ongoing conspiracies and called for united resistance against such syndicate groups. They urged the authorities to take immediate action to ensure transparency and equal opportunity in the travel trade.

The ATAB committee also appealed to the media to act responsibly and avoid spreading misleading propaganda, emphasizing their continued commitment to protecting the interests of the travel trade and upholding the country’s image.

ATAB is the only government-recognized and Ministry of Commerce-registered trade organization representing licensed travel agencies in Bangladesh. Since its 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.