Travel Agents’ Association faces probe over missing funds nearly Tk49 lakh
According to Mutakabbir, who took charge of ATAB on 12 August, multiple financial discrepancies emerged soon after he assumed responsibility
Bangladesh's Association of Travel Agents (ATAB) is under scrutiny after government-appointed administrator Mutakabbir Ahmed alleged the leadership of the organisation of misappropriating nearly Tk48.5 lakh from the organisation's accounts, including funds collected for a familiarisation trip and unauthorised cash withdrawals.
Mutakabbir Ahmed, a deputy secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, issued a formal notice Yesterday (22 October) seeking explanations from former president Abdus Salam Aref, former secretary general Afsiya Jannat Saleh, and former finance secretary Shafiq Ullah Nantu.
The notice warned that legal action would follow if the irregularities were not addressed promptly.
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According to Mutakabbir, who took charge of ATAB on 12 August, multiple financial discrepancies emerged soon after he assumed responsibility. Between 10 July and 4 August 2025, a total of Tk45 lakh was withdrawn in cash across four instalments.
The notice also stated that ATAB had collected Tk45,96,250 from 91 members for a familiarisation trip between 16 July and 25 September 2025. Before this collection, the organisation's account balance stood at Tk41,38,566.
Accounting for the funds collected from members and deducting Tk4,32,600 spent on visa fees and Tk55,000 refunded to one participant, the balance should have been approximately Tk82.5 lakh.
However, by the time the administrator assumed office, the account held only Tk34,05,796, leaving roughly Tk48.5 lakh unaccounted for. Records show that 103 members were registered for the trip, with ten members still owed Tk51,500 each.
While contacted, former ATAB president Abdus Salam Aref rejected the allegations, insisting that all expenditures were properly documented and supported by vouchers submitted to ATAB.
He told The Business Standard that the notice was issued by the outgoing administrator on his last day in office to discredit the former committee. Aref also alleged that the controversy is politically motivated, part of a syndicate's effort to weaken the former leadership ahead of upcoming ATAB elections.
