Travel Trailblazer Honored: Toufiq Uddin Ahmed Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Toufiq Uddin Ahmed, the Founder and Chairman of Galaxy Bangladesh, has been awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth of Bangladesh’s travel and tourism industry over the past five decades. The accolade was presented at the “ShareTrip–Monitor Airline of the Year 2024” ceremony, the country’s only awards program dedicated to the aviation and travel sector, held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
The jury panel commended Toufiq Uddin Ahmed for his “visionary leadership and pioneering role” in transforming Bangladesh’s travel sector.
His journey began in 1972, at a time when the travel industry in Bangladesh was still in its infancy. Starting from a modest office in Dilkusha, Dhaka, he founded Galaxy Travel International and gradually built it into one of the most respected and multi-dimensional travel service providers in the country.
Under his leadership in the 1970s and 1980s, Galaxy Travel emerged as a top corporate travel service provider catering to government entities, corporate houses, local and foreign banks, multinational companies (MNCs), and various NGOs.
Driven by a deep passion for travel and a strong commitment to connecting Bangladesh with the world, Toufiq Uddin Ahmed steered Galaxy to become a gateway for numerous international airlines entering the Bangladeshi market. Under his guidance, the company served as the General Sales Agent (GSA) for globally recognized airlines such as United Airlines, Ansett Australia, Kingfisher Airlines, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, SpiceJet, Saudia, Oman Air, and Jazeera Airways.
Beyond building a solid corporate portfolio, Toufiq Uddin Ahmed has played a significant role in the broader development of the travel industry. He was a founding organizer of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) and was elected three times as President of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), where he championed higher industry standards, effective policy advocacy, and collective progress.
Under his direction, Galaxy also launched visa services in partnership with international entities like VFS Global, making global travel easier, more efficient, and affordable for thousands of Bangladeshis.
Speaking on the occasion, Toufiq Uddin Ahmed said, “This recognition is not merely a personal achievement but a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the entire Galaxy family. I am deeply grateful to the airline partners, various ministries and government agencies, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, other private airlines, the Bangladesh Tourism Board, and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation for their continuous support in our journey to place Bangladesh on the global tourism map. We remain committed to excellence, nurturing new talent, and making the aviation, travel, and tourism sectors more dynamic.”
Toufiq Uddin Ahmed continues to be a source of inspiration in Bangladesh’s aviation and tourism landscape through his forward-thinking vision. He is currently focusing on promoting the potential of medical and leisure tourism and emphasizes the importance of building the necessary infrastructure and enhancing international promotion to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.
The award jury stated, “Toufiq Uddin Ahmed has been honored with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the advancement of Bangladesh’s travel industry.”
The event organizers hailed his lifelong work as a unique source of inspiration for the country’s aviation and tourism sectors, highlighting his commitment to connecting people, cultures, and destinations as a driving force behind Bangladesh’s increasing global connectivity.
