CID files money laundering case against Flight Expert over Tk35cr fraud
The investigation found that Flight Expert collected tickets through various IATA-approved travel agencies but often did not issue them to customers despite receiving full payments
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police has filed a money laundering case against online travel company Flight Expert (FEBD), accusing the firm of laundering nearly Tk35 crore through alleged ticket fraud.
CID filed the case with Motijheel Police Station in Dhaka on 11 July under Sections 4(2) and 4(4) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (amended in 2015), based on findings from its Financial Crime Unit.
The case names seven people, including Flight Expert Managing Director and CEO Salman Bin Rashid Shah Sayem, President MA Rashid Shah Samrat, Directors Amir Hamza Rashid Shah Nayeem, AKM Shahadat Hossain and Abdul Gani Mehedi, Head of Finance Md Sakib Hossain, and Soma International Services' proprietor Motaher Hossain.
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The investigation found that Flight Expert collected tickets through various IATA-approved travel agencies but often did not issue them to customers despite receiving full payments. CID also identified cases where the company allegedly collected payments from multiple sources for the same ticket.
CID said Salman Bin Rashid Shah Sayem left the country on 1 August 2025. The agency alleged that after his departure, several directors and the head of finance withdrew and transferred significant amounts of money from different bank accounts linked to the company.
The investigation also found that funds deposited into the company's bank accounts were later moved, withdrawn and converted through other accounts in an attempt to hide the source, ownership and nature of the alleged criminal proceeds.
According to CID, Flight Expert started its online air ticket business in 2016 and later expanded into hotel bookings, Hajj and Umrah packages, and other travel services. The company registered as FEBD with the joint stock authorities in 2019 but continued operating and conducting banking transactions under both Flight Expert and FEBD names.
CID alleged that the company attracted customers and sub-agents by offering unusually high discounts and collected large advance payments for air tickets. However, in many cases, it failed to provide the promised tickets.
CID's preliminary investigation estimated that over Tk34.69 crore was misappropriated through fraud. The agency said the subsequent transfer, handover and conversion of the funds through banking channels constituted money laundering.
CID will lead the investigation and continue necessary legal procedures, the agency said.
