In a shocking revelation, Biman Bangladesh Airlines—a national carrier—has been embroiled in a massive ticket black-market scandal. High-ranking officials and travel agencies colluded to embezzle approximately Tk10 crore (about $10 million) through fraudulent air ticket sales. Thousands of workers scheduled to fly to Malaysia were affected by this scheme. The syndicate, led by Biman’s acting director of marketing, Mohammad Salahuddin, and former Biman MD and CEO Shafiul Azim (currently serving as the Secretary of the Election Commission), manipulated ticket prices and blocked seats for the benefit of select travel agencies. As a result, around 31,000 workers missed their flights, leading to tragic consequences. One worker, overwhelmed by despair, even died by suicide after missing his flight. The urgency for reforms within Biman cannot be overstated. Join us as we delve into the scandal, its impact, and the need for accountability and change.
