Waterway travel deal with India soon: Muhith

 Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Wednesday said an agreement will be signed with India to introduce waterway journeys by tourists between the two neighbouring countries.

“The Cabinet Committee on Tourism Affairs has taken the decision. The deal will be signed once the Prime Minister approves the propsal,” the minister told reporters after a meeting of the committee at the Secretariat.

Muhith said only cargo vessels now can ply between two countries as per the 1965 agreement. “A fresh agreement is needed for plying passenger vessels.”

He said security will be beefed up in the country’s various tourist spots, including Chittagong Hill Tracks and Cox’s Bazar, so that tourists can travel there safely.

To facilitate tourism, introducing train services alongside improving the road communication with Cox’s Bazar, and waterway journey and road communications with Kuakata sea beach are needed, the minister observed.

The government will announce the 2016 as tourism year and arrange tourism festivals in 2018 and 2019 years, aiming to flourish the tourism industry, Muhith said.

Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan were, among others, present at the meeting.

Source: UNB