Bangladesh has sought technical assistance from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to curb airline ticket syndicates, modernize the aviation sector and develop tourism. The issues were discussed on Monday at the Bangladesh Secretariat during a courtesy meeting involving Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroz Khanam, State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat and IATA Regional Vice President Shejdon Hir.

IATA said it was prepared to provide full support for the development of Bangladesh’s civil aviation sector in line with the current government’s electoral commitments. The association also expressed interest in providing technical support to upgrade Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ Bangladesh Airlines Technical Center into a modern institution of international standard.

Afroz Khanam said the government had already taken effective measures against ticket syndicates and that IATA’s technical assistance was important. She said the government follows a zero-tolerance policy against all syndicates in aviation and is working for a transparent, competitive market. Millat said a separate provision on reducing carbon emissions had been added to the civil aviation ordinance, while initiatives on sustainable aviation fuel and adoption of the Montreal Protocol 2014 would advance.