Dhaka: Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, also the president of Workers’ Party, on Monday urged private sector to invest in tourism industry as the government faces fund constraint in promoting tourism in home and abroad.

‘We would like to facilitate the private sector in making investment for tourism promotion and development,’ he said while exchanging views with tourism stakeholders after visiting new office of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) at annex building of under renovating Intercontinental Hotel in the capital.

The minister urged the private entrepreneurs to submit their proposals regarding investment in tourism sector.

‘After getting your proposals, I will hold meeting with Finance Minister before upcoming budget to discuss how the government can facilitate the private sector in this regard,’ he said.

The minister said the present government has taken numbers of significant initiatives for tourism development in last one and half year. Recently, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid foundation stone of developing exclusive tourist zone at Sabrang in Teknaf.

‘Construction work of railway from Dohazari to Gundhum via Cox’s Bazar will start by this year,’ he said. Menon said the marine drive will be widened and the highway from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf will be upgraded to four-lane in near future.

He said a three-star hotel is being constructed at Mongla and a work plan has been formulated for further flourishing tourism in greater Sylhet.

‘We received a proposal from United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to present the world’s largest mangrove forest Sundarbans, a UNESCO heritage, in front of international holiday makers in proper tourism-friendly way,’ he said.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, CEO of BTB Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) Chairman Dr Aparup Chowdhury were present on the occasion.