Published: 11:15 PM, 03 August 2026
Govt seeks IATA support to curb airline ticketing syndicates
The government on Monday sought technical support from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to strengthen its crackdown on airline ticketing syndicates, reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy against irregularities in the country's aviation sector.
The call came when IATA Regional Vice-President Shejdon Hee paid a courtesy call on Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat at the Secretariat, reports BSS.
"The government has already taken effective steps to curb ticketing syndicates. In this regard, IATA's technical cooperation is important for us," Afroza said at the meeting. She said the present government is pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of syndicates in the aviation sector to ensure greater transparency and improve passenger services.
Speaking at the meeting, State Minister Millat said the government has incorporated a separate provision on reducing carbon emissions into the Civil Aviation Ordinance as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability. He said Bangladesh is also working to promote the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and would take the necessary steps to adopt the Montreal Protocol 2014 to strengthen legal measures against crimes committed on board aircraft.
IATA's regional vice-president assured the government of the association's full support in implementing the current government's agenda for developing Bangladesh's civil aviation sector.
He also expressed IATA's interest in providing technical assistance to modernise the Bangladesh Airlines Technical Centre (BATC) under Biman Bangladesh Airlines, transforming it into an international-standard maintenance and technical facility.
The meeting also discussed expanding cooperation between the government and IATA in developing Bangladesh's tourism sector, strengthening international air connectivity and enhancing the overall capacity of the country's civil aviation industry.
