Kuakata beach carnival kicks off today

The first ever "Kuakata Mega Beach Carnival" will begin today eying to make the south-eastern sandy beach of Bangladesh familiar as a popular tourist destination both locally and internationally.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is scheduled to inaugurate the three-day carnival.

"Successful celebration of the carnival would acquaint the Kuakata beach and adjacent tourism spots with the local and international tourists," Bangladesh Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir told the news agency.

Kuakata is located at Patuakhali district, south-eastern side of Bangladesh, which has a sandy beach of 18km long and 3km wide. From the beach, one can have an unobstructed view of both sunrise and sunset over the Bay of Bengal.

About the participation of foreign tourists, Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said few countries have still continued travel advisory that is why ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries have been invited to the carnival.

"They (envoys) would disseminate messages to their citizens about the beauty of Kuakata and Bangladesh," he hoped.