Airlines GSA Forum kicks off at Dhaka
Staff Reporter :
A new organization named the Airlines GSA Forum of Bangladesh has officially launched operations in the country. This forum brings together the General Sales Agents (GSAs) who represent foreign airlines in Bangladesh.
The organisation’s logo was unveiled during a grand event held on Sunday night at the Sheraton Hotel in the capital.
The event’s chief guest was Air Vice-Marshal M. Monjur Kaikobad Bhuiyan, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). In his welcome speech, he termed this initiative as timely and relevant.
It was shared during the event that over 70 foreign airlines currently operate in Bangladesh through their respective GSAs. Initially, 28 GSA companies representing more than 50 foreign airlines have joined the forum as members. The forum’s founders expressed hope that the remaining GSA companies would soon become members as well.
A keynote presentation on the aviation sector was delivered by Muzakker Hossain, Director of the TAS Group. The presentation highlighted that airlines are operating direct flights from Bangladesh to 30 international destinations, serving at least 12 million passengers annually and transporting over 250,000 tons of cargo. Around 5,000 small and large entrepreneurs are involved in the aviation services business, which employs approximately 125,000 people.
Representatives from both domestic and international airlines welcomed the formation of the GSA Forum with congratulatory remarks.
The purpose and objectives of the Airlines GSA Forum of Bangladesh were outlined as follows: to serve as a unified platform representing the interests of GSAs operating in Bangladesh and the wider aviation industry; to engage actively with government and regulatory bodies in support of fair and progressive aviation policies; to contribute to the knowledge and professional development of GSA staff and aviation professionals through training, seminars, and workshops; and to promote Bangladesh as a potential aviation hub to the international community and global airlines through various initiatives.
Among the forum members present at the event were Khaled Yusuf Farazi, Arif Rahman, Mohammad Habib Ullah Don, Sohag Hossain, M.A. Latif Shahriar Zahedi, Mizanur Rahman, and Muzakker Hossain. Other attendees included Mahbubul Anam, Rajibul Haque Chowdhury, Shadat Hossain, Yami M. Saleh, Yusuf Walid, and Toufiq Uddin Ahmed.