Travel agency Saimon Overseas Limited has been cleared of money laundering allegations after an investigation by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism found the claims to be false, misleading, and unsupported by evidence.
Sources revealed that the allegations were part of a smear campaign by vested interests, following the company’s efforts to address irregularities in the air ticketing market, such as anonymous group bookings and prolonged seat blocking.
These practices have been blamed for artificially inflating airfares.
The initiative against such malpractices was spearheaded by Afsia Jannat Saleh, managing director of Saimon Overseas Limited and secretary general of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh for the 2024–2025 term.
Industry insiders claim that her reform-driven actions triggered retaliatory actions from certain groups.
In response to the allegations, the Ministry issued a show-cause notice, to which the company provided bank statements, IATA BSP reports, ticket copies, and other relevant documents.
After thorough verification, authorities found no evidence to support the claims, granting the company full clearance.
A circular issued by the ministry on Sunday confirmed the findings.
In a statement on Monday, Saimon Overseas Limited announced it has initiated legal action against those responsible for spreading false information.
Industry insiders noted that misinformation campaigns often surface amid reforms and approaching ATAB elections, urging stakeholders to support transparency and ethical practices within the travel sector.
