Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing Bangladesh’s tourism sector in a planned manner, with a particular focus on preserving the natural beauty of Kuakata and strengthening tourism infrastructure in coastal areas.
“In order to develop Bangladesh’s tourism sector in a long-term, sustainable and planned manner, the present government has made specific commitments. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has already begun work to formulate a National Tourism Master Plan,” he said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while replying to a starred question from MP ABM Mosharraf Hossain (Patuakhali-4) during the question-answer session in Parliament.
In formulating this master plan, Tarique said special importance is being given to preserving the natural beauty of Kuakata and developing the tourism sector.
“Besides this, a feasibility study is currently underway for a proposed project titled ‘Development of basic facilities at Patenga–Anwara Beach’ in Chattogram district.”
The Prime Minister said he had once visited Kuakata with his father and late President Ziaur Rahman and that the memory created a personal emotional attachment and special interest in the region.
He said a comprehensive development plan is being implemented to boost tourism and infrastructure in Kuakata and surrounding areas.
Tarique said the Ministry of Housing and Public Works has prepared a plan titled “Payra–Kuakata Comprehensive Plan Focusing on Eco-Tourism”, covering seven upazilas including Kalapara, Galachipa, Rangabali, Barguna Sadar, Patharghata, Amtali and Taltali.
He said an action area plan is currently being developed to implement the initiative while the tourism component will be executed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
“We hope that once this is finalised, it will accelerate the overall development of the tourism sector in Kuakata under Kalapara upazila,” the Prime Minister said.
Responding to a question from a lawmaker, the Prime Minister said establishing an airport in Kuakata will depend on economic viability.
“Air services can certainly be operated there, but if it runs at a loss, public money will be wasted. So commercially, it may not be very viable,” he said.
Tarique, however, said that if a private company wishes to operate flights, the government would consider providing necessary infrastructure support after proper feasibility assessment.
“But we must ensure that neither the government nor any private entrepreneur suffers losses due to an unviable project,” he said.
Responding to a supplementary question from Shafiqul Islam (Patuakhali-2) on river erosion, the Prime Minister said the problem is not limited to one area but affects many parts of the country including regions such as Sariali Kandia in Bogura and several other northern and southern districts.
He said river training is one possible solution although it is highly expensive and must be implemented as needed.
Tarique also said that river erosion often intensifies during the monsoon season when water flow increases suddenly.
In this context, he referred to past initiatives, including a canal excavation programme introduced during the tenure of late President Ziaur Rahman, aimed at addressing water management and river-related challenges.
The Prime Minister said canal excavation remains an important tool for managing both flood and irrigation water needs especially in rural areas where farmers often face water shortages even during the rainy season.
He further said that groundwater levels are gradually declining in many areas, making integrated water management essential.
The Prime Minister said compared to costly river training projects, canal excavation remains a more practical and cost-effective solution for Bangladesh, and the government is placing strong emphasis on it.
Earlier, the Prime Minister took part in a 30-minute question-and-answer session in Parliament where he answered four starred questions and several supplementary questions. He also responded to seven written questions.