Flight Expert management allegedly flees with hundreds of crores of taka

Flight Expert, once the largest online flight ticketing platform in Bangladesh, has reportedly shut down operations and vanished without notice. The company’s office is currently found closed, and its official website has gone offline. Multiple sources have reported that various travel agencies and individuals had invested hundreds of crores of taka in the company.

The CEO of Flight Expert Salman Bin Rashid Shah Sayeem, along with his father MA Rashid Shah Shamrat, the Chairman of its parent company Makkah Group, has fled to Canada, as per sources.

Mamunur Rashid, a member of Flight Expert’s sales team, confirmed the situation. “Our owner fled the country last night,” he stated. “We are now heading to the Motijheel police station to file a report.”

In a leaked message shared in the company’s internal WhatsApp group, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman claimed he was betrayed by colleagues Saeed, Hossain, and Shakib. He alleged that the trio conspired to shift blame onto him during a company meeting held last Thursday, leaving him no opportunity to defend himself. Salman further claimed that the three withdrew approximately Tk 3 crore earlier this morning and kept the money, contributing to the company’s collapse.

Salman stated that he has taken a leave of absence to protect himself from threats and false accusations. Expressing his regret, he maintained that he had no intention of disappearing under such circumstances.

Meanwhile, many concerned individuals have taken to social media, particularly Facebook, to express their shock and frustration. Numerous users alleged that the owner fled the country last night. On Flight Expert’s official Facebook page, the most recent post was regarding Hajj, announcing the opening of registration for Hajj 2026 and publishing their Hajj package prices.

A Facebook user, Joyita Afrin, commented under the post: “If a trusted company like Flight Expert can flee the country, who else can we trust?”

Flight Expert launched its operations in Bangladesh in March 2017 with a grand inauguration event. Since then, it rapidly established itself as a key player in the country’s online travel and ticketing industry. The company offered a range of services, including domestic and international flight bookings, hotel reservations, tour packages, and visa processing.

It rose to prominence largely due to its user-friendly platform, competitive pricing, and promotional offers. Over the years, it attracted a vast user base drawn by discounts and flexible payment options.

The sudden disappearance of Flight Expert has left a cloud of uncertainty over Bangladesh’s online travel sector, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight and consumer protection. A formal investigation is expected to begin soon.