Bangladesh Tourism Board seminar backs eco-tourism, public-private ties
Dhaka: The Bangladesh Tourism Board on August 12 organized a seminar titled "Public-Private Partnership and Awareness Raising for the Promotion of Eco-Tourism" at Parjatan Bhaban in the capital, bringing together government officials, industry stakeholders, and academics to discuss the state of eco-tourism in the country.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam attended as Chief Guest, while Ministry Secretary Fahmida Akhter was present as Guest of Honour, and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Md. Shamimuzzaman joined as Special Guest. Md. Abdur Rouf, CEO (Additional Charge) of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, chaired the session.
In her remarks, Minister Khanam said the tourism sector has seen limited significant development despite 55 years of independence. She said the government is working to position Bangladesh as a tourism hub, in keeping with pledges made in its election manifesto.
The minister noted that within five months of taking office, the government has already launched several initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector, though she acknowledged that building Bangladesh into a tourism hub will require sustained efforts.
She called on all stakeholders to extend cooperation toward that goal, adding that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership, the government intends to hold monthly meetings with private-sector representatives to close information gaps between state institutions and industry.
On destination development, Khanam said the ministry is weighing plans to build tourism sites around three villages — Mitingachhari in Rangamati's Kaptai Upazila, Pankhali in Khulna's Dacope Upazila, and Nafanagar in Dinajpur's Bochaganj Upazila — designated as "SDG Villages" by the prime minister.
She added that authorities want to map tourism-potential sites across all 64 districts of the country, with the aim of establishing Bangladesh as an internationally recognized, world-class destination.
Secretary Fahmida Akhter said the ministry has begun work on a Tourism Satellite Account to help address data and information shortfalls in the sector. She said an Eco-Tourism Policy is also being drafted.
Akhter said past progress in the sector had been constrained by weak coordination among agencies but expressed confidence that cooperation among stakeholders would help close those gaps going forward.
Discussions at the seminar covered the importance of eco-tourism to Bangladesh, its current status, the challenges facing its expansion, proposed action plans, and recommendations for moving forward.
Professor Dr. Md. Wasiul Islam of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology at Khulna University delivered the keynote paper at the event.
The seminar is part of a broader push by the Bangladesh Tourism Board to formalize coordination between government bodies and private operators as the country works to expand its tourism footprint beyond traditional destinations.
