Government Investigation and Committee FormationThe Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Bangladesh took these complaints seriously and formed an investigation committee to identify the culprits behind the abnormal ticket price hike.
The committee gathered evidence of ticket hoarding, overpricing, and fraudulent sales.
Findings confirmed that 13 agencies were directly involved in illegal practices.
The committee’s report highlighted how these agencies violated Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013.
The Hearing Process
Before final action, the accused agencies were given a chance to defend themselves:
2 agencies appeared in the hearing and submitted documents.
11 agencies ignored the summons and failed to provide required information.
The presented documents were examined, and even the agencies that appeared were found guilty of violating regulations.
This confirmed that all 13 agencies were involved in black marketing, profiteering, and consumer rights violations.
List of 13 Travel Agencies Whose Licenses Were Canceled
The ministry has officially canceled the registration certificates of the following agencies:
- Kazi Air International (Pvt.) Ltd.
- Citicom International Travel Agency (Pvt.) Ltd.
- RBC International
- Megha International Air Service
- Mother Love Air Service
- JS Travel & Tours
- Hashem Air International
- Four Trip Limited
- King Air Aviation
- Biplob International Travel Agent
- Sadia Travels
- At-Taiyara Travels International
- NMSS International
This strong step was confirmed through an official order signed by Joint Secretary A.K.M. Moniruzzaman of the Civil Aviation Ministry.
Legal Framework: Bangladesh Travel Agency Act 2013
According to Section 9 of the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013, the registration authority has the power to:
Investigate agencies involved in illegal practices.
Review evidence and provide hearing opportunities.
Cancel licenses of agencies found guilty.
The cancellation of these 13 travel agencies proves that the government is committed to ensuring transparency, fair ticket pricing, and passenger rights.
Consumer Rights and Aviation Governance
The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) have been working together to:
Protect passengers from exploitation.
Monitor ticket pricing systems.
Ensure fair business practices among travel agencies.
Prevent black marketing in aviation services.
This crackdown sends a clear warning to all agencies that fraudulent practices will not be tolerated.
Impact of License Cancellation on the Market
The cancellation of these agencies is expected to:
Reduce artificial scarcity of tickets.
Normalize ticket prices on high-demand routes like Middle East, Europe, and the US.
Encourage other travel agencies to follow the law strictly.
Boost passenger confidence in Bangladesh’s aviation sector.
However, experts warn that continued monitoring is essential, otherwise similar practices could return.
Passenger Reactions
Many passengers, especially Bangladeshi expatriate workers, welcomed the government’s strict decision.
Expatriate workers often face the highest ticket costs while traveling to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Malaysia.
Students and tourists also suffered financial losses due to inflated ticket prices.
Social media users praised the government action, calling it a “long-awaited step.”
Future Steps for Fair Aviation Governance
To prevent such incidents in the future, experts suggest:
Digital Ticket Monitoring System: Implement real-time monitoring of ticket sales.
Strict Enforcement of Laws: Regular audits of travel agencies.
Consumer Complaint Hotline: A direct channel for passengers to report fraud.
Transparency in Group Booking: Limit the ability of agencies to block tickets.
Collaboration with Airlines: Airlines must ensure that agencies cannot misuse booking systems.
Conclusion
The cancellation of 13 travel agency licenses marks a major milestone in Bangladesh’s fight against black marketing in aviation.
By taking strong legal action, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has sent a message that the government stands firmly with passenger rights and fair business practices.
If this momentum continues, air travel in Bangladesh will become more affordable, transparent, and passenger-friendly.
