The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The government is going to form a national tourism board soon for flourishing the country's tourism industry.

"The process is underway to turn the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) into a national tourism board by changing its structure to make the organisation time-befitting, dynamic and effective," BPC Chairman Shafique Alam Mehdi told BSS on Monday.

He hoped that the new organization would play a more effective role in the development of tourism industry of the country.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry has finalised a draft tourism law, which is now for the government's approval and likely to be announced by the end of this month.

"There are huge potentialities in the country's tourism sector and if we can utilise those properly, Bangladesh will soon turn into a well-off nation," Mehdi said.

The BPC chairman stressed the need for a well-coordinated plan to develop the country's tourism sector in the greater national interest.

Mehdi said the country's tourism sector was being neglected for the last 37 years." The sector did not get proper attention during the period as there was no plan or accountability for it," he said.

As a result, he added, the sector failed to achieve expected progress and prosperity.

The BPC chairman said after taking office the present caretaker government identified tourism as a thrust sector and undertook various steps for its gradual development.

The steps included construction and development of tourist motel and Buddhist temple at Kuakata, development of Mirinja Tourist Centre at Lama in Bandarban, construction of a motel in Moulavibazar and restaurants at Jaflong and Kantazi and expansion of motel in Dinajpur, construction of motel at Anwara in Chittagong and restaurant at Patenga Sea Beach, motels at Buimari Land Port and at Munshiganj in Satkhira, construction of restaurant at Birisiri in Netrokona and touris resorts in Saint Martin and Teknaf, construction of motels in Rangamati and Kaptai, introduction of tourist facilities in Baga Lake and Shuvalong, setting up special tourist zone in Cox's Bazar and construction of tourism training centre in Sylhet.