The Ministry of Commerce issued a notice today to the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), asking the organisation to explain why an administrator should not be appointed by revoking its existing executive committee.

Signed by Deputy Secretary Tahsina Begum, the notice asked ATAB to submit a written reply within seven working days.

According to the notice, the ministry stated that it had received a letter calling for the dissolution of ATAB's current executive body and the appointment of an administrator.

Earlier, on March 18, ATAB's reform council submitted letters to the commerce ministry, civil aviation ministry, and home ministry urging the removal of the current ATAB committee and the appointment of an administrator.

Gofran Chowdhury, convener of the reform council, sent the letters to the three ministries, alleging political bias and financial irregularities within the ATAB leadership.

In the letters, the group accused ATAB President Abdus Salam Aref and Secretary General Afsia Jannat of being pro-Awami League and conspiring to "reestablish fascist Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh."

The letter also said that Aref had attended a meeting with Sheikh Hasina and top business leaders on August 3, allegedly to thwart the July–August movement.

The reform council also claimed Aref and Afsia of embezzling crores of taka by issuing cheques in favour of their respective business organisations using ATAB online, a platform that was dissolved allegedly without refunding shareholders.

When asked, ATAB President Abdus Salam Aref said, "Those who were affected by our move against the ticket syndicate are involved in such moves. We are sad to get the notice. I don't know whether the commerce ministry knowingly or unknowingly issued such a notice."