Bangladesh Railway has requested an explanation from its ticketing contractor, the Shohoz-Synesis-Vincen joint venture, following allegations that automated bots were used to secure train tickets immediately after online sales opened, which were then resold at inflated prices. Shohoz has responded to the inquiry, and railway authorities are currently reviewing the company’s explanations in coordination with IT experts.
An internal audit of the railway’s online ticketing system, covering fiscal years 2021-22 through 2025-26, identified several security weaknesses, including the existence of approximately 169 administrator accounts. The audit flagged concerns that these accounts could be exploited to hold tickets for days prior to their official sale dates, facilitating potential black market activities. Such activities allegedly involved collusion between representatives of the contractor and railway booking assistants. The audit also pointed to a particular unauthorized website, bookmyrailbd.com, which reportedly used bots to accumulate large numbers of tickets for resale at higher prices.
Railway Director General Afzal Hossain confirmed that some findings pertained directly to Shohoz, while others involved the railway’s operational and commercial departments. He noted that Shohoz retained administrator privileges at several stations, allowing them to modify train compositions and update seat availability. These administrative controls are now being transferred back to railway authorities. Afzal said the possibility of Shohoz’s direct involvement in ticket black marketing “could not be ruled out” and that further consultations with IT experts are underway to determine appropriate next steps.
The Transport Audit Directorate’s report also highlighted financial irregularities, including discrepancies in deposits owed to the government treasury that were linked to online ticket revenue. Specifically, it noted unpaid fines totaling 13.9 million taka related to system issues such as slow servers and outages, which were apparently offset against payments due to Shohoz rather than being collected separately. The Directorate issued 22 audit memos to the railway in mid-August, prompting the current investigation.
Shohoz Limited CEO Lt Col (retd) Aminul Haque issued a written statement emphasizing that the company has submitted responses and supporting documentation regarding the audit findings. He indicated that the matters involve contractual terms, technology infrastructure, data management, and operational procedures, and that a detailed comment would be premature while authorities continue their review. The company pledged ongoing cooperation to maintain passenger service quality, data security, and transparency.
In an effort to curb black market ticket sales, Bangladesh Railway has blocked nearly 10,000 suspicious mobile phone numbers and national ID numbers. It has also requested intervention from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to shut down the unauthorized booking website. On October 8, the railway formally ordered actions to disable the site and enhance ticketing system security.
With the Shohoz contract due to expire in January 2027, Bangladesh Railway is preparing to invite tenders for a new ticketing agency. Director General Afzal Hossain confirmed that tender documents are ready and tenders will be solicited soon but declined to link the procurement explicitly to the current allegations against Shohoz. The joint venture was initially awarded a five-year contract in February 2022.