General members of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) staged a demonstration by forming a human chain in front of the ATAB headquarters at Nayapaltan in Dhaka on Thursday, demanding immediate withdrawal of the appointed administrator, calling for the move to be scrapped entirely.
Led by Shah Alam Kabir, chief coordinator of ATAB’s general members, the protesters emphasized that ATAB has functioned effectively for decades without administrative intervention, and such appointments undermine the democratic rights of its members.
Speakers at the event criticized the practice of appointing administrators, arguing it historically disrupts the operations of professional bodies in Bangladesh without delivering meaningful reform. They insisted that ATAB should be governed by an elected executive committee accountable to its members, rather than by unelected officials.
“We are not against oversight—we are for self-governance,” Kabir said. “The association must be run by representatives chosen by the members, not imposed from outside.”
The protesters also exposed a powerful air ticket syndicate within the travel sector, alleging that select travel agencies and General Sales Agents (GSAs) for Middle Eastern airlines hoard unissued tickets and sell them on the black market at prices two to three times higher than official rates.
Despite a government circular banning ticket issuance without passenger details, this practice continues unchecked due to collusion and poor enforcement.
They also raised concerns over the lack of regulatory policies for Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), allowing some digital platforms to collect millions of taka from customers and agents before disappearing without accountability. The protesters urged the government to implement comprehensive regulations for OTAs without delay.
ATAB members further demanded the arrest of alleged syndicate leaders Jumon Chowdhury and Sabuj Munshi, accusing them of building illegal ticketing networks during the previous government. They called for the cancellation of their agency licenses and urged strict action by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
Prominent participants included Shariful Alam Dipu, Mosharraf Hossain, Jahangir Alam, Nurul Alam, Mahmudul Islam, Zahirul Islam, Suman, Faisal Karim Jony, Imam Hossain, Anwar Hossain, Mozzafar Hossain, and Jasim Hossain.
The protest concluded with a resolution to continue their movement until all demands are met, warning of further actions if the government fails to respond.
HKJ
