The administrator of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) has detected extensive financial irregularities committed during the tenure of the organisation’s now-dissolved executive committee.
The findings include the misuse of funds collected from members for “fam trips” (familiarisation trips) and the withdrawal of large sums of money in violation of ATAB’s constitution.
In an official letter dated 22 October, ATAB’s outgoing administrator and Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Motakabbir Ahmed, said the anomalies were detected soon after he assumed responsibility for the organisation.
According to the letter, between 16 July and 25 September 2025, the previous committee collected BDT 4.596 million from 91 members for fam trips. Before this collection, ATAB’s bank account had a balance of BDT 4.138 million.
However, within a week of the new administrator taking office, several members sought refunds for the trips. The administrator’s report revealed that 84 members were owed BDT 4.192 million, but this amount was not found in ATAB’s account. Only a few members received partial refunds.
The report further stated that between 10 July and 4 August 2025, a total of BDT 4.5 million was withdrawn through four separate cheques. The administrator described these as “unauthorised transactions” under Article 53(a) of the ATAB constitution, which restricts such withdrawals.
When the administrator assumed charge, the account contained only BDT 3.045 million, a figure far below the amount collected from members, making it impossible for ATAB to refund all participants.
In response, the administrator sent letters to former President Abdus Salam Aref, former General Secretary Afsia Jannat Saleh, and former Treasurer Shafik Ullah Nantu, urging them to return the misused funds immediately to resolve the matter. The letter warned that legal measures would be taken if the issue remained unresolved.
The Ministry of Commerce had earlier dissolved the ATAB executive committee over allegations of financial irregularities and appointed an administrator to restore transparency and accountability in the organisation’s affairs.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the Director General of the Office of Trade Organisations.
According to ministry sources, preparations are underway to launch a formal investigation to determine the total financial loss and assess whether the former leaders violated trust or failed in their fiduciary duties.
ATAB, which represents over a thousand travel agencies across Bangladesh, is one of the country’s most influential bodies in the civil aviation and tourism sectors. The revelations have triggered widespread concern among travel agents about financial governance and the credibility of the association.
