Safety of tourists will be ensured, says Bangladesh official

Following the recent terror attacks in the neighbouring country, the Bangladesh government has assured that safety of potential Indian travellers will be ensured, a top official said on Saturday.

"The safety of Indian tourists will be ensured. We are committed to the issue," said Jyotirmoy Burman, Joint Secretary in the Bangladesh Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

"It is unfortunate that such attacks have taken place in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has categorically stated the country will convert this grief into strength to fight these forces," he said at the 'Travel and Trade Fair' here.

"The Sheikh Hasina government has been pro-active to overcome the situation and regain the confidence of prospective travellers. It is a question of our image. Our government has been pro-active in handling the situation and the entire process is being conducted under the direct supervision of our Prime Minister," he said.

Emphasising the Bangladesh Government's "zero tolerance" approach for such terrorist activities, Barman said she has categorically stated that the country will "convert this grief into strength" to fight against such forces.

To attract Bengali-speaking tourists, the Bangladesh government with the help of tour operators plans to arrange a three-day programme to commemorate the occasion of February 21 International Mother Language Day. The visit would start from February 20 and end on February 22 during which Indian tourists would be assisted to visit various places of interest in Bangladesh and also taste a variety of cuisines.

Among foreign tourists to Bangladesh, the Japanese accounts for the maximum number followed by those from Italy, he said.

According to estimates of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh, four to five lakh foreign tourists visit Bangladesh every year out of which about 1.5 lakh are from India.

--IANS

bdc/vd