Sk Bashir Uddin is serving as the Adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in the Interim Government. Recently, he has also taken charge as the Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ board of directors. In an interview with Bonik Barta, he discussed a wide range of issues: the artificial shortage of airline tickets in Bangladesh, soaring prices, the dominance of syndicates, the challenges and prospects of Biman, the operation of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and the purchase of Boeing aircraft from the United States. Interview conducted by Shamim Rahman.

There have been allegations of creating artificial shortages of airline tickets in the country to drive up prices. There are also reports of powerful syndicates being involved. What is your observation on this, and what are your plans to address it?

Last year, more than 13 million passengers traveled by air from Bangladesh. Nearly 80 percent of them were migrant workers. They go abroad, often breaking into their life savings and taking on debt. Yet, we have failed to make their journeys affordable due to unreasonable ticket prices. This exploitation has been going on here for many years. We want to put an end to it.

How do you plan to stop it?

In Bangladesh, 35 airlines operate, of which three are local. Foreign airlines sell tickets through local agents, called GSAs. There are three global distribution systems (GDSs). Travel agencies, perhaps numbering around 5,000, sell tickets through these systems. There are also online ticketing agencies. Beyond these, many unregistered sellers also sell airline tickets. These groups are involved in creating artificial shortages to hike prices. Our investigation shows that the three GDS companies generate multiple IDs. Using these IDs, they create both registered and unregistered ticket sellers, which leads to a shortage. The artificial scarcity drives ticket prices up.

Two online travel agencies even sell tickets from abroad. Some people in our country deposit money with them, further increasing the artificial shortage. To stop this exploitation, we have decided to tackle it at the root. So far, I have taken one action: I have mandated that every ticket must display its price. I want to implement this simple measure because its benefits will be far-reaching.

With these measures, you can control Bangladeshi ticket sellers. But how will you stop those selling tickets from abroad and those involved in syndicates?

This is a very challenging issue. My understanding is that third-country sales agents hold about 5 to 7 percent of tickets. If I can allocate tickets correctly through my system, no one will go to them. Another measure is to stop passengers who buy tickets through third countries at the airport itself. As a regulator, I have the authority to implement this.

What steps will you take to enforce the rule of displaying prices on the ticket itself?

I issued instructions a week ago. I will observe the situation for another four or five days. After that, if tickets do not display prices, I will not allow passengers to travel. There are three magistrates at the airport; I have added one more, and I will add more if necessary. The magistrates will be present, and I will personally monitor the process as well. My goal is not to reduce ticket prices, it is to rationalize prices. Right now, I believe ticket prices are unreasonably high.

Air travel from Bangladesh is declining. Many airlines are cutting or canceling flights. How do you view this situation?

Our regulatory system, from the airport up to the ministry, is inefficient. Delays and lack of competence discourage good airlines from coming here. To increase flight frequency, we need to make major changes to this system.

You recently took charge as the Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. What are your plans for the company?

Biman currently has only 20 aircraft and nearly 200 pilots. The question is: am I using them efficiently? Last year, 13 million passengers traveled from Bangladesh, yet Biman carries only about 22 to 25 percent of them. If Biman were five times larger, it could dominate the entire domestic market. The unfortunate reality is that, until now, Biman has not been built into a fully capable airline. Poor operational capacity means resources are not being used effectively. On top of that, incompetence, inefficiency, and corruption have collectively undermined what could be a promising business. A small group benefits from this system. If we can overcome these challenges, Biman has significant potential. This, of course, will take time and requires capable leadership. During our (Interim Government) tenure, we will do as much as possible. I hope that if we get the “train on track,” it will gradually gain momentum even after our term ends.

Do you plan any major changes in Biman’s administration?

No comment.

Are there plans to remove the requirement for having a GSA?

No comment on this either.

What is the progress in appointing an operator for the third terminal?

We are in the final stages of discussions with a Japanese company. There were some ambiguities between the two sides. We have clarified everything from our end and requested clear answers from them. We are waiting for their response and expect to receive it, perhaps, next week. Once we have it, we will make the next decision.

If the Japanese company does not agree to Bangladesh’s conditions, what will you do?

If Sumitomo Corporation, leading the Japanese consortium, does not accept our terms, we will certainly look for an alternative operator. We will do what is best for Bangladesh’s interests.

Has any other company proposed to operate the third terminal?

I have not received any such proposals from other companies.

There is an initiative to purchase aircraft from Boeing. What is the government’s latest position on this?

All of Biman’s aircraft on international routes are Boeing planes. Our staff are skilled in operating and maintaining Boeing aircraft. Naturally, Boeing is our first choice. During tariff discussions, the United States has also expressed its willingness to sell Boeing aircraft to Bangladesh.

How many aircraft are you planning to buy?

It depends on our capacity and demand. If we have the capability, we could buy 25 or more planes. However, even if we want to, we cannot purchase them immediately. With any company, the first delivery would be in 2031–32.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you to Bonik Barta as well.

[This interview was originally conducted in Bangla and published in both the Print and Online editions of Bonik Barta. It has since been translated for the English edition.]