Travel agents demand ticket refund block

Staff Reporter :

Travel agents have called on authorities to immediately block any refunds or cancellations of tickets issued through online travel agency Flight Expert Limited without prior approval from passengers or the issuing agencies.

At a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday travel agents called for urgent government intervention to stop refunds or cancellations of tickets issued via Flight Expert without the consent of passengers or issuing agencies.

They also demanded immediate repayment of refunded ticket amounts along with penalties, citing severe violations of consumer rights and aviation regulations.

Flight Expert, operating since 2017, is accused of embezzling large sums before a case was filed at Motijheel Police Station on 3 August. While some suspects are in custody, Managing Director Salman Bin Rashid Sayem and Chairman MA Rashid Shah Samrat remain at large.

Speakers noted that on 7 August, a court barred refunds or cancellations of tickets issued through the Flight Expert portal without prior approval, with orders sent to Motijheel police.
However, they alleged the company continued issuing tickets through third-party agencies even after losing its IATA ID.

In many cases, these third-party agents allegedly refunded tickets without permission, kept the money, and in some instances reissued tickets for the same journey at inflated fares without issuing receipts.