ATAB holds discussion meeting on conspiracy against the organization
Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) organized a discussion meeting on “Conspiracy against ATAB and taking action against air ticket syndicates” on May 14 through the online platform.
ATAB President Abdus Salam Aref presided over the meeting while Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh moderated it.
The meeting discussed the conspiracy and false allegations of air ticket syndicates against ATAB and how should take action against the conspirators.
In order to control the abnormally high price of air tickets, eliminate the artificial seat shortage, and ensure equal business opportunities for all travel agencies by breaking the air ticket syndicate, the current committee of ATAB took a stand against the ticket syndicate and drew the attention of the government by holding discussions and press conferences in various meetings in November-2024 and January-2025, highlighting the problems and remedies of the trade. In this context, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism issued a circular on February 11. In this regard, the current committee of ATAB provided overall support to the government.
The wrongdoers are not getting the opportunity to make syndicate after the issuance of the government circular and are unable to increase the ticket price by losing sole control over the business. As a result, the syndicate group is trying its best to reactivate in the market and is also carrying out various conspiratorial activities against ATAB President Abdus Salam Aref, Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh and the current Executive Council.
They are threatening in various ways, influencing various social media, Facebook, WhatsApp and newspapers, publishing false propaganda and misleading information in the name of ATAB President, Secretary General and the committee. They are carrying out various conspiratorial activities against the current committee, including filing false complaints with various ministries to cancel the current ATAB Executive Committee, and are even threatening to attack the ATAB office. At the meeting, the ATAB members strongly protested and condemned the ongoing deep conspiracy against ATAB and collectively expressed their opinion to identify this conspiracy and the conspirators and take legal action.
The meeting called on the government to take all legal measures including bringing the wrongdoers behind ticket syndicates, black marketing and hoarding under investigation and canceling their licenses and demanded that the administration take immediate action to permanently remove the ticket syndicates from the trade.
In addition, ATAB Vice President Mohammad Ziaur Rahman Khan Rezwan, ATAB’s former Executive Vice President and current EC Member Alhaj HM Mujibul Haque Sakur, ATAB’s former Secretary General and current Member Jinnur Ahmed Chowdhury Dipu, ATAB Deputy Secretaries Md. Russo Chowdhury, Md. Towaha Chowdhury and other members expressed important opinions in the meeting.
The ATAB committee requests all electronic and print media to play a responsible role without being misled by false allegations against ATAB and to present the truth to the public about the extent of the syndicate that has caused damage to ATAB and the travel business.