A panel contesting the upcoming election of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) on Saturday hosted a cultural and networking event in Dhaka, using a "Sufi Nights and Dinner" programme to rally support and promote unity within the country's tourism sector ahead of the polls.

Organised by the TOAB Ogragami Oikkojot panel at a convention hall in Nayapaltan, the event brought together tour operators, tourism entrepreneurs, industry leaders and association members for an evening of cultural performances, discussions and networking.

The gathering featured Sufi music, informal exchanges and a dinner reception, providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing Bangladesh's tourism industry and explore ways to strengthen cooperation across the sector.

Addressing the audience, panel leader and TOAB presidential candidate Dr Taslim Amin Shovon said the industry required experienced leadership, transparency and collective action to unlock its full potential.

Other panel members echoed the call for greater unity, stressing that sustainable growth in tourism would depend on stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

Organisers said the event was intended to reinforce professional ties within the industry at a time when the tourism sector faces both opportunities and challenges. They described the gathering as an effort to promote consensus and cooperation beyond electoral competition.

Industry veterans and representatives from leading tourism organisations also attended the programme. Among them were former TOAB presidents Taufiq Uddin Ahmed and Faridul Haque; Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association (BOTOA) President Syed Golam Mohammad; Travel Canvas Editor Syed Golam Kader; and BOTOA founding president Rezaul Ekram (Raju), who also serves as Executive Director of the Bangladesh Foundation for Tourism Development (BFTD).

The event was moderated by senior journalist and TravelBangla.com Editor Pranab Saha. Overall coordination was led by TOAB Ogragami Oikkojot chief coordinator Chowdhury Hasanuzzaman Rony and deputy coordinator Abdullah Al Kafi.

The TOAB election is expected to shape the leadership of one of the country's most influential tourism trade bodies, with competing panels intensifying outreach efforts to win the confidence of members ahead of voting.

—