Domestic Airfare Hike for Eid Holiday Passengers: TIB calls for accountability of this ‘atrocious extortion’
Media Release
Domestic Airfare Hike for Eid Holiday Passengers:
TIB calls for accountability of this ‘atrocious extortion’
Dhaka, 10 August 2019: Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has is shocked and disappointed that domestic airlines of the country, as reported by the media, have hiked their ticket price 3-4 times taking advantage of the higher demand for the Eid holidays. Calling it an ‘atrocious extortion’, the non-governmental anti-corruption organization in a media statement issued today has demanded justice and accountability in public interest and for corporate integrity.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB said, “We have been deeply shocked and disappointed to see the media report that some airlines of Bangladesh have brazenly involved themselves in an unprecedentedly atrocious act of extortion of passengers taking advantage of the higher demand for travels during the Eid holidays”.
This, he said, is an extremely shameful example of non-compliance of national and international standards which is unthinkable for outfits involved in airlines business, never experienced by any country befitting civilized corporate behavior.
TIB ED said, “if these airlines represented responsible and prudent corporate practice they could have planned to make special arrangements to temporarily expand their fleet of aircrafts and/or increased number of flights to cope with the increased demand and thereby make additional profit. But in no circumstance can they take resort to such illegal profiteering by collusive abuse of corporate power and indulge in such corrupt activities”.
He called upon the relevant government authorities, especially the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) to duly investigate the matter and bring to justice those responsible for this collusive corruption and harassment of the customers holding them to hostage.
“Accountability must be ensured for public interest and in order to ensure the minimum level of corporate honesty and integrity. Given proper commitment they can still be even caught on the spot for action to be taken”, TIB said in the statement.
