Govt, Biman, BAIRA served legal notice for unreasonable airfare

Dhaka: A Supreme Court lawyer on December 28 served a legal notice on the authorities concerned to take proper steps and bring unreasonable air ticket prices for Bangladeshi expatriate workers down to a reasonable level.
Mohammad Shishir Manir sent the notice on behalf of eight Bangladeshi expatriates to the officials concerned of government, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA).
In the notice, the lawyer asked the officials to explain in seven days why appropriate action should not be taken against the persons and organisations involved in the irregularities, corruption and unusually high airfare.
If they do not response to the notice in seven days, a case will be moved before the High Court for necessary directives, Shishir Manir said in the notice.
Expatriate Rights Council's demands
Earlier, Bangladesh Expatri-ate Rights Council has demanded that the air fare be reduced for the expatriates flying to the Middle-Eastern countries with jobs.
The council submitted a three-point demand to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, said a press release issued by the council on December 26.
The immigration expenses have been increasing rapidly in accordance with the air fare hike adding to the woes of expatriates. 
The council also demanded that the number of flights to the Middle-East be increased. It said that a regulatory board should be set up to control the air fare hike.
For the last one month, expatriates have been facing numerous problems due to the air fare hike for those travelling to the Middle East.
Also, broker-free passport and embassy services should be ensured with passport modification opportunities. Furthermore, the formulation and implementation of Expatriate Protection Act Special allocation for              expatriates should be ensured in the national budget, it added.