Tourists excited

Getting opportunity of visiting the Sundarbans from Kuakata sea beach by passenger launch, first of its kind in the route, tourists from home and abroad are very excited.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan formally inaugurated the much desired service on Wednesday.

Considering the interest of the visitors, Green Line Waterways and Surovi Paribahan jointly started the service.

The double-decker launce has a capacity of 312 seats with four single cabins, eight double and a VIP cabins.

On the first day of its journey, around 80 tourists visited the Sundarbans by the launch yesterday.

During the inauguration at Kuakata beach, Minister Shahjahan Khan said the launch service from Kuakata to Sundarbans, which is especially for tourists, will take our tourism industry one more step forward.

Tourists from home and abroad will be benefited through the launch service and learn more about the Sundarbans and Kuakata, the minister said, adding that they will also enjoy the scenic view of the Bay of Bengal while travelling in the launch.

Kuakata municipality Mayor Abdul Bareq Mollah said it is a great opportunity for the tourists to visit the mangrove forest in Sundarbans from Kuakata by launch.

They can enjoy two tourist spots in a single tour, he said.

Rumman Imtiaz Tushar, a local businessman, said with easier communication by the launch service, both the interest of tourists and the importance of Kuakata will surely increase as its distance from the capital is less than that of Cox's Bazar.