68 new tourist spots on the cards: Menon

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon today said the government would create 68 new tourist spots to cater the needs of the tourists and flourish the tourism industry.

The minister revealed it at the opening ceremony of "Sonargaon Vasyaman Restaurant and Bar" on Shitalakshya River at Pagla in the district's Sadar Upazila. The new restaurant is replacing Merry Andersen Floating Restaurant which was destroyed in fire two years back.

Referring to additional allocation of Tk 100 crore by the government, Menon said "infrastructural work of each spot will be started by developing separate model."

Meanwhile, development works in 12 spots have already been begun, he added.

The tourism minister said the government had taken the initiative to refurbish the Merry Andersen after the damage, but later changed the move as it appeared as costly than replacing by the Sonargaon Vasyaman Restaurant and Bar. 

Speaking on the occasion as special guest, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said navigability and beauty of the rivers have been diminished due to negligence. He also termed the people who are engaged with river pollution as "rajakars of this era".

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary SM Ghulam Farooque, Shipping Secretary Ashoke Madhab Roy, Narayanganj Zila Parishad Chairman Anwar Hossain, BIWTA Chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq, BIWTC Chairman Jnan Ranjan Sil and Additional Director General of Department of Narcotic Atahar Ali, among others, also spoke on the occasion with Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Aparup Chowdhury in the chair.