News Desk :
Leaders of Bangladesh Pilgrims and Hajji Welfare Council (BPHWC) on Saturday alleged that travel agencies created an artificial ticket crisis on the Dhaka-Jeddah route with the help of some corrupt officials at the Biman’s Motijheel office.
They claimed that in collaboration with the Biman sales office officials of Motijheel, some errant agencies have been charging extra fare from Middle East bound passengers showing fake booking of air tickets. Without getting tickets, passengers have been buying tickets paying Tk 11,000 to 23,000 extra from the agencies.
On the contrary, more than 60 to 100 seats of Biman remain empty in every trip due to the same reasons. As a result, the government is losing a huge amount of revenue from the sector, said Dr. Abdullah Al Naser, president of BPHWC, at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Naser sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, State Minister for Civil Aviation Mahbub Ali and State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan’s interference to reduce plane fares in the routes for the betterment of pilgrims and Bangladeshi migrants who are working there.
He also claimed their allegations of syndication will be proven, if the documents of Biman sales office and Middle East bound flights are verified. The members of the syndicate have been earning lots of money and laundering huge amounts by increasing plane fares illegally. BPHWC Adviser Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan Hassan, also panel chief of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) Democratic Oikya Front, said that after closure of Hajj and Umrah for last two years, huge passengers have been waiting for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage this year.
But, most pilgrims are facing sufferings without getting air tickets with fair prices. The government should take necessary steps against the syndicate for easing the pilgrimage, he added.
Among others, BPHWC Vice President Md. Tajul Islam, leaders Abu Daud Faisal and Md. Manik also present at the programme.
