Effective steps taken to curb ticket syndicate: Minister

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam has said the government is following a zero-tolerance policy against any form of syndicate in the aviation sector. Effective measures have been taken, particularly to curb the ticket syndicate.

She made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Shezdon Hir, regional vice-president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), at the ministry in Dhaka on Monday (August 3). State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present at the meeting.

The minister said technical cooperation from IATA will play an important role in implementing the government's initiatives to control ticket syndicates. Additionally, IATA has expressed interest in cooperating in transforming Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Bangladesh Airlines Technical Centre (BATC) into an internationally standard modern facility.

During the meeting, IATA assured full cooperation in the development of the country's civil aviation sector in line with the current government's election manifesto.

State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said a separate clause on carbon emission reduction has been incorporated into the Civil Aviation Ordinance for environmental protection. Additionally, initiatives are being taken to use sustainable aviation fuel, and necessary steps will be taken to adopt the Montreal Protocol 2014 for combating crimes in the skies.

The meeting also discussed various issues related to the development of the country's tourism sector, expansion of international air connectivity and future cooperation between the government and IATA to enhance the capacity of the aviation sector .