Aviation & Tourism Sector Honours 10 Women During ATJFB Awards

The ATJFB Aviator Women’s Icon Award has been given to ten women in recognition of their noteworthy contributions to Bangladesh’s aviation sector.

They received this honour yesterday, March 13, at a ceremony held in the Samson H. Chowdhury Auditorium of the Dhaka Club in the nation’s capital. The Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB), the association of aviation and tourism journalists, presented the prize. The programme was sponsored by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines. The event’s chief guest was Faruk Khan, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

The 10 awardees included US-Bangla Airlines Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Dilruba Parveen in Aviation Entrepreneur category, Butterfly Park Chairman Monwara Hakim Ali in Tourism Entrepreneur category, Atab General Secretary Afsia Jannat Saleh in Leadership category, Green TV Executive Editor Nadira Kiron in Journalist category, Deputy General Manager of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Training Center Rashida Kabir Chowdhury in Aviation Trainer category, Tasmin Doja of Biman Bangladesh Airlines in the pilot category, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Share Tripe Sadia Haque in OTA Entrepreneur category, Samiya Halima Kabir, Aeronautical Engineer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines in Aeronautical Engineer category, Cabin Crew of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Farhana Islam Nusrat in Cabincrew category, and National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI) trainer Jaheda Begum received the award in the Culinary Tourism category.

While giving a speech during the event, Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), said, “Bangladesh’s aviation sector has about 6% female workforce. Neighbouring country India has the largest number of women workers in the sector in the world, at around 12%. I think that women workers should be increased in this sector in Bangladesh.”

Muhammad Faruk Khan said women have done well and progressed whenever given the opportunity. He said, “Today’s award is also a unique award. We will do whatever is necessary to maintain the continuity of this arrangement.”

“Sheikh Hasina’s government is determined to empower women. I hope that girls will go further in the aviation sector. We will provide the necessary facilities for this,” he added. 

During the ceremony, Mokammel Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism; Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB); Shafiul Azim, MD and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines; Bangladesh Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Abu Taher Muhammad Jaber, ATJFB President Tanjim Anwar, and General Secretary (Acting) Baten Biplob were also present.

For more travel-related news about Bangladesh, follow Fly to BD.