President, PM for joint efforts for development of tourism industry

Staff Correspondent: President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have urged all those involved in tourism sector, including government and non-government organizations, to work together for the development of the country’s tourism industry.
The President and the Prime Minister yesterday issued separate messages on the occasion of ‘International Hilsa, Tourism and Development Festival-2021’ to be held today.
President Abdul Hamid in his message said: “I think it is possible to present the country’s tourism industry to the world effectively by connecting natural beauty with local culture and heritage. So, we all have to work together for the development of the country’s tourism industry.”
Undoubtedly, ‘International Hilsa, Tourism and Development Festival-2021’will play a helpful role in flourishing the development, the head of the state added.
Mentioning that food and cuisine are important components of tourism, he said Hilsa, which is very tasty and nutritious, is a part of Bengali culture.
He lauded Bangladesh’s beautiful nature as it is a country enriched with geo-natural diversity.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said: “I urge private entrepreneurs to come forward spontaneously for the development of the tourism industry as in the current context of Bangladesh, the importance of tourism is essential for the inclusive economic growth of the country including poverty alleviation and massive job creation and improvement of living standards of marginalized people.”
The premier further said that the contribution of the fisheries sector in meeting the nutritional needs of the growing population of the country, employment, poverty alleviation and export earnings is universally recognized now-a-days.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2020, Bangladesh ranked 2nd in the world for the growth rate of freshwater (mitha pani) fish production, 3rd in the world in fish production in inland open water and 5th in fish production in stagnated water, she said.
Bangladesh ranked 1st in the world in Hilsa production and 4th in tilapia production, she said, adding that the country is now self-sufficient in fish.
Even in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the government is working tirelessly to build the hunger-poverty free and happy- prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she continued.
For fulfilling Bangabandhu’s dream, the government is working for the implementation of Vision 2021 and 2041 and Delta Plan-2100, she added.
Both the president and the premier wished a success for all the programmes taken for ‘International Hilsha, Tourism and Development Festival-2021’.