Bangladesh Travel Agency Flight Expert Shuts Down Amid Fraud Allegations; Customers and Agents Left in Limbo
Online travel agency Flight Expert, a major player in Bangladesh’s digital travel booking market, has abruptly ceased operations amid allegations of large-scale financial fraud, leaving thousands of customers and travel agents in uncertainty over booked air tickets worth millions of takas. Founded in March 2017, Flight Expert offered airline ticketing, hotel bookings, and tour packages through its online platform. The company’s website went offline last Saturday afternoon. Hours earlier, Managing Director Salman Bin Rashid reportedly informed staff via an internal WhatsApp group that he was shutting down the company and leaving the country to “protect himself” from mounting legal trouble. Employees shared the message with local media, sparking public outrage. In his statement, Rashid claimed two senior officials had betrayed him, putting him in jeopardy. Following the sudden shutdown, the owner of Sarkar Tours and Travels filed a complaint at Dhaka’s Motijheel police station. Authorities confirmed three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, although the main accused remain at large. The arrested individuals were denied bail and are currently in custody. Travel agents who bought tickets in bulk from Flight Expert are now unsure whether they can recover their funds or fulfill customer bookings. One such agent, Tripploy, reported purchasing tickets worth BDT 2.2 million from the now-defunct platform. “Our customers don’t care who Flight Expert is — they only know us, the agents who sold them the tickets,” said Taufiq Mahbub Barshan, CEO of Tripploy. “We don’t know what to tell them now.” Numerous travel agencies are reporting similar situations, with some having spent tens of millions of takas on advance ticket purchases through Flight Expert. While many agents are pledging to honor their commitments to customers, they remain unsure whether they will be reimbursed for the tickets they already issued. A writ petition has been filed seeking a freeze on all financial accounts of Flight Expert Limited, its directors, shareholders, and beneficiaries. The petition also seeks a court order to ban the company’s top executives from leaving the country without judicial permission. Efforts by the Press to reach Flight Expert for comment were unsuccessful as phone lines remained switched off. The scandal has sent shockwaves through the country’s online travel industry, which had seen significant growth in recent years, raising broader questions about regulatory oversight and consumer protection in Bangladesh’s digital marketplace.
Flash Floods Ravage Uttarkashi’s Dharali; Death Toll Rises, Over 100 Missing as Rescue Operations Continue in Rain
Parallel News Digital Desk, 6th August Torrential rains and flash floods have left a trail of destruction in Uttarkashi’s Dharali area, where at least five bodies were recovered by Wednesday afternoon. More than 100 people remain missing, raising fears that the death toll may rise further. Relentless rainfall continued across Uttarakhand for the third consecutive day, hampering rescue efforts by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Rescuers, working in hazardous conditions, have so far evacuated approximately 150 people to safety. The flash flood struck after a cloudburst over the Khirganga river on Tuesday afternoon, sweeping away houses, hotels, vehicles, and people in its path. Villages including Suki and its surroundings bore the brunt of the sudden deluge. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours in Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Red and orange alerts have been issued in several areas, warning of potential further disruptions. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a high-level meeting to assess the crisis. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Dhami over the phone to review the situation and was also briefed by several Members of Parliament from the state. Landslides triggered by the downpour have disrupted road connectivity across the state. As of Wednesday, 163 roads — including seven state highways, five national highways, and two border roads — remain blocked. Specially trained sniffer dogs have been deployed in Dharali to search for survivors who may be trapped under debris. Authorities continue to race against time as rains persist and the terrain remains treacherous.
A Case Filed to Division Bench Before The Nabanna ‘Abhijaan’
Parallel News Digital Desk, 6th August A man has filed a case opposing the protest rally of 9th August, before the Division Bench, claiming that it could disrupt public life. Permission for this case has already been granted. The hearing is likely to take place Thursday. The parents of Abhaya have called for an apolitical protest Nabanna ‘Abhijaan’ on 9th August. This same date of 2024 marked the physical abuse and murder of the doctor practicing in R. G. Kar Hospital. The accused Sanjay Ray, a Civil Volunteer has already been arrested. However, the victim’s parents have claimed that justice for the heinous crime is yet to be served, which remains the sole reason for the protest. The BJP party has confirmed their support and presence for this march. However, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Association (WBJDA) has assembled a press conference and conveyed their absence in the march. The state government is already prepared for the march. Meanwhile, this case has been filed in the High Court opposing the Nabanna protest.
Modi to visit China amid U.S. tariff threats and post-Ladakh tensions – first visit since 2020 clash
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, his first trip to the country since the deadly border clash in Ladakh in 2020. The high-stakes diplomatic visit comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has issued fresh tariff threats against India, warning of a potential increase beyond the existing 25% imposed on New Delhi. Washington has linked the punitive trade measures to India’s continued energy and trade ties with Russia. China, also a major buyer of Russian energy, has stepped up efforts to deepen its strategic partnership with India amid the shifting global geopolitical landscape. Modi is expected to travel to the Chinese city of Tianjin for the SCO leaders’ summit, scheduled for August 31 and September 1. The multilateral bloc includes India, China, Russia, and Pakistan, among others. While it remains uncertain whether Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend, Modi’s message on counter-terrorism is likely to draw attention in light of recent cross-border incidents, including the Pahalgam killings and “Operation Sindoor” in Jammu and Kashmir. Ahead of the summit, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had visited China for respective SCO ministerial meetings. In both forums, Indian officials strongly reiterated New Delhi’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, with Singh notably criticizing Pakistan without naming it, in the presence of Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Should Sharif attend the summit, observers will closely watch whether Modi delivers a pointed message in the leaders’ session, reinforcing India’s regional security concerns.
“The Hon’ble has fled from her Chair” : Suvendu
Parallel News Digital Desk, 6th August Suvendu Adhikari did not shy away from slamming virtually. Adhikari dropped several posts accusing Hon’ble’s disappearance. He stated “The Hon’ble has fled from the city, but the chair is still in place.” After this explosive post the Bengal politics has virtually erupted. It has raised many questions regarding the person he was pointing at? Has the Chief Minister resigned from her post? In fact, on August 9, marking the first anniversary of the Abhaya incident, Abhaya’s parents and family have called for a march to Nabanna. The state government has already ordered tight security arrangements for this protest. However, on Wednesday, a man from Howrah filed a case before the Division Bench opposing the apolitical protest, claiming that it could disrupt public life. The hearing for the case is expected to take place on Thursday in the court of Justice Sujoy Paul. The march has been called by Abhaya’s family to seek justice from the state’s Health and Police Minister, who is also the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. However, the Chief Minister is currently in Jhargram for an official programme. According to Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition, the administrative head of the state has left Kolkata out of fear of August 9. Taking a dig at the situation, Adhikari wrote on his social media handle: “So frightened of Abhaya’s parents, for the physical assault and death of their doctor daughter, that she has fled to Jhargram in fear.” “While deploying the entire state police force to protect the Blue House in Howrah.” Adhikari further alleged that Mamata Banerjee had left Kolkata in advance, fearing the presence of Abhaya’s family. He added on his social media, “Terrified, the Hon’ble Chief has fled the city in advance under the excuse of an administrative programme in Jhargram!” “But the chair remains — on the 14th floor of the Blue House in Howrah. Let’s hope no one tries to shake it in her absence.”
“Suvendu Adhikari is talking insane”: Debanshu
Parallel News Digital Desk, 6th August. Suvendu Adhikari has criticised the Chief Minister for allegedly fleeing from Kolkata responding to the call by Abhaya’s family has called for a Nabanna Abhiyan (march to the state secretariat), the protest rally. In a social media post the Opposition leader further accused Mamata Banerjee of using the state police to save her own chair. In retaliation, Trinamool Congress’s social media cell chairperson Debangshu Bhattacharya took a sharp dig at Suvendu Adhikari, virtually calling him “insane.” Attacking Adhikari, he claimed “This man has completely lost his mind. He has no political future.” Debangshu further questioned, “Why would Mamata Banerjee flee? Did she flee during the earlier Nabanna Abhiyan? They can’t do anything themselves but are always making big claims. It seems Mr. Suvendu has forgotten that the investigation is being conducted by the CBI. Within 12 hours of the incident, Bengal Police arrested the accused, and even the CBI has named him as the sole culprit. The truth is, Mr. Suvendu is trying to give this entire issue a dirty political twist, perhaps because he sees no future in his own political career.”
Toronto Sanskriti Sangstha (TSS) proudly presents TSS Puja Parikrama
Parallel News Digital Desk, 6th August: A vibrant cultural initiative during the Durga Puja celebrations. This unique parikrama brings together members, families, and the wider community to visit and pay homage to various Bengali puja pandals across the Greater Toronto Area. The journey is not just a tour of artistry and devotion, but a celebration of our shared heritage. Participants experience the joy of darshan at different pujas, enjoy cultural performances, partake in bhog and prasad, and connect with fellow devotees in the spirit of unity and festivity. Above all it gives a glimpse of cultural performances showcasing Indian dances, folk music and drama of our community. It also explores exhibits of community artists and children’s performance celebrating Devi Durga and Bengali heritage. TSS Puja Parikrama fosters a deeper appreciation of Bengali traditions while strengthening the bonds within the diaspora community. It is a much-awaited annual event, reflecting TSS’s commitment to cultural engagement and spiritual enrichment. Whether you’re new to Durga Puja or a lifelong devotee, TSS Puja Parikrama offers a warm and inclusive way to connect with Bengal’s rich spiritual and cultural traditions.
