Shahid Hamid FIH, Chairman, PATA Bangladesh Chapter and Executive Director, Dhaka Regency Hotels and Resorts was awarded by The Bangladesh Monitor on their 25th anniversary of publication for his contribution to the hospitality industry.
Dhaka : In another first, on its 25th anniversary, The Bangladesh Monitor has instituted awards in Travel and Tourism Sector for individual contributions.
Four prominent persons in the industry received the first ever such awards, for their contributions to enrich the Travel and Tourism industry of the country.
The four distinguished recipients of the honour are: Hakim Ali, Chairman, Intraco Group of Comapnies (Tourism), Late Haji Md. Fakruddin, Founder of Fakruddin food and catering chain (Culinary Industry), Shahid Hamid, Executive Director, Regency Hotel and Resort and Chairman PATA Bangladesh Chapter (Hospitality Industry) and S A Reza Hussain, first Bangladeshi Country Mana-ger of BOAC, now British Airways (Aviation).
These and other awards were presented by Rashed Khan Menon, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism as chief guest, at the 25th anniversary ceremony, held at Westin Hotel, Dhaka, on December 17.
The function was attended by representatives from a number of ministries, Bangladesh Tourism Board, foreign missions in Bangladesh, local and foreign airlines, Tour Operators, Cargo and Travel agencies.
On its 25th anniversary, The Bangladesh Monitor was showered with praise for its constructive role in developing Travel and Tourism industries of the country.
Appreciations
The role and contribution of The Bangladesh Monitor was appreciated through special mention by Rashed Khan Menon; Abdul Muyeed Choudhury, retired Secretary, now CEO Tiger Tours Ltd; Shamsad Ahsan, former Country Manager of Qatar Airways; Syed Golam Quader, prominent tour operator; Khalid Ali J Hasan, Emirates Area Manager, Bangladesh; Hanif Zakaria, General Manager of Etihad Airways; Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director, Novo Air; TM Wang, General Manager of Singapore Airlines and Kazi Zahurul Quaium, Executive Director of ExpoLanka.
They all lauded the role of The Bangladesh Monitor in serving the travel industry for long 25 years with distinction, under difficult conditions. They expressed the hope, the journal would continue to serve the industry with same zeal in the days ahead.
Government efforts
Speaking on the occasion Menon, highlighted the efforts of the government in developing tourism and aviation in the country.
Menon said that the government is going to start construction of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport within the next one and a half years as a region hub and meet growing traffic demand of the country and this region.
Explaining the reason for construction of BSHIA, Menon added that the existing infrastructure facilities of the main gateway of the country, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, are insufficient to meet the future air traffic demand and there are some constraints to expand the airport.
Menon also mentioned about up-gradation Cox’s Bazar Airport to an International one; equipping Shahjalal International Airports with new facilities; opening Syedpur airport to improve air connectivity with neighbouring countries_ Nepal and Bhutan; building Khan Jahan Ali Airport in Khulna to increase access to the nearby Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ), Mongla Economic Zone, Mongla Port and Rampal Power Plant as well as tourism attractions of the area.
Menon admitted that with varied attractions, tourism in Bangladesh has potentials, but lack infrastructure to be a single country destination.
The Minister said infrastructure development of country’s tourism industry is the key challenge towards becoming a single country destination. Some initiatives are being taken to make it a tourists-friendly country as early as possible, he added.
Menon congratulated The Bangladesh Monitor on its 25th Anniversary and said it is really a fate to survive and survive successfully in the limited market of travels and tourism. He also appreciated editorial contents and high quality of production of the paper.
Appreciation
The Bangladesh Monitor also extended appreciative recognition to Singapore Airlines, Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Thai Airways, FedEx and ABC Air Limited for their support through continuous use of commercial space in The Bangladesh Monitor and also extending various kinds of support towards The Bangladesh Monitor.
Team members
The Bangladesh Monitor also recognised some team members for their long-standing and invaluable services. They are_ Raquib Siddiqi, Chief Editor for his inspiration, guidance and invaluable editorial support in publication of The Bangladesh Monitor all these years.
Asma Ali, Feature Editor, for her sincere and continuous association with The Bangladesh Monitor since its inception as Feature Editor. She is popularly known as a food critic as she has been reviewing restaurants and culinary events for last 25 years.
Md Oheduzzaman Titu, Photo-journalist, for his committed services to The Bangladesh Monitor for over 16 years.
Diversified activities
Welcoming the guests Kazi Wahi-dul Alam, Editor of the journal said The Bangla-desh Monitor started its journey on August 16, 1991. Besi-des publication, the journal, from the very beginning, organising round table conferences, seminars, workshops on various issues of aviation and tourism sector of the country.
For its factual, analytical and constructive article, The Bang-ladesh Monitor received PATA Gold Award in 2005. The article_ A Thrust Sector with No Thrust_ was written by Raquib Siddiqi, Chief Editor of the journal.
Wahid said that through signing of a syndication agreement with the Hindustan Times in 2010, the journal entered in to the international media arena. Bangladesh Monitor, besides, its print version launched the online version in 2008. Mobile app was launched in 2015.
He also mentioned with pride that The Bangladesh Monitor is the pioneer in organising international tourism fair- Travel Mart in 2002, Chef of the Year competition in 2005 and Airline of the Year awards in 2006.
He said the magazine would continue its efforts for the development of the country’s aviation and tourism sectors in the days to come.
While thanking the guests for their support to The Bangladesh Monitor, Chief Editor of the journal Raquib Siddiqi said except significant improvement in hospitality and some improvement in tourism sectors, the situation in country’s aviation industry remain almost same during the past 25 years.
The depressing situation, he said, failed to dampen the spirit of The Bangladesh Monitor and it continues to hope that some day government will start taking positive actions to put aviation and travel industries on right track.
The anniversary function was rounded off with sumptuous dinner.