Ten women were honoured for their significant contributions to Bangladesh’s aviation and tourism sectors at the ATJFB Women’s Icon Award 2026, organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh.

The ceremony, the third edition of the awards, was held on Saturday at the All Community Club in Dhaka.

Civil Aviation and Tourism State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat handed over the awards to the winners.

In the pilot category, Air Astra’s First Officer Sajidina Sultana Soni was recognised.

Farzana Yasmin, head of cabin service at Novoair, received the award in the cabin crew category.

Farhana Yasmin, senior executive (sales and marketing) at US-Bangla Airlines, won in the sales and marketing category, while Mousumi Akter, assistant manager (customer service) at US-Bangla Airlines, was honoured in the customer service category.

Barrister Mehnaz Mannan, group chairman of Bengal Airlift Limited, received the award in the aviation entrepreneur category.

Mukta Wahid, manager of cabin services at US-Bangla Airlines, was recognised in the instructor category, and Bosra Islam, general manager (public relations) at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, won in the public relations category.

In the tourism sector, Sumaiya Tahmim Bushra of Riverine Tours was honoured in the tour guide category, Chef Aksa Iqbal of Westin Dhaka received the culinary tourism award and Farhana Rahman, owner of Royal Arsalans, was recognised as a hospitality entrepreneur.

At the event, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said the initiative by ATJFB to recognise women is highly commendable.

He said the civil aviation and tourism sectors play an important role in Bangladesh’s development and the current BNP-led government is working to make these sectors more modern, safe and of international standard.

He said the BNP manifesto also places importance on developing the aviation and tourism sectors, expanding international connectivity and presenting the country’s tourism potential to the world. In this progress, the active participation of women is very important.

He added that women in Bangladesh are now playing important roles in aviation, tourism and hospitality sectors as pilots, air traffic controllers, aviation engineers, cabin crew, airport managers, hotel managers and tourism entrepreneurs.

The success of those receiving awards today will inspire the next generation, he said.

He also said the government is working to empower women and improve their skills, while aviation and tourism journalists are also playing an important role in presenting the potential and challenges of these sectors to the nation.

ATJFB President Tanzim Anwar and General Secretary Baten Biplab also spoke at the event.

Among others present at the event were Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman, Sohag Hossain, managing director of Rhythm Group and general sales agent of Ethiopian Airlines in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Nuzhat Yasmin, and former CAAB chairman Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Mafidur Rahman

Ethiopian Airlines was the supporting sponsor (powered by) of the Icon Award.

After the award ceremony, an iftar party was arranged in honour of ATJFB members, the award-winning women, their family members and stakeholders of the aviation and tourism sectors.