The 20-year-long master plan to transform the tourism city Cox’s Bazar into a modern and smart city is likely to be initiated next month. The Cox's Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA) is ready to prepare a masterplan for the tourism city. "We're working to formulate a masterplan for 20 years — from 2023 to 2043 — to transform Cox's Bazar into a smart city. The formal work to this end will start next month," Chairman of the CoxDA, Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar, told reporters in a views-exchange meeting held at his office on Saturday. Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher also spoke at the programme. Read: Bangladesh’s first tourism master plan yet to be formulated, was supposed to be completed last Dec A detailed area plan is also being formulated to ensure a planned development for an attractive and environment-friendly Cox’s Bazar. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier asked the authorities concerned to prepare a masterplan for Cox's Bazar, to develop it as a smart city with all the modern facilities. She also asked the authorities concerned to keep the beauty of the “longest natural unbroken sea beach” in the world unharmed. Sheikh Hasina wants to transform Cox's Bazar into a global hub of tourism and aviation by developing a dedicated tourist attraction for foreigners, and a state of the art international airport with the longest and only marine runway in the country, the CoxDA chairman said. Read: Agreement signed with Seoul for transport master plan for Chattogram city The CoxDA chairman also said they are formulating the masterplan following the directive of the prime minister. It includes formulating strategic policy plan, detailed area plan of all the upazilas and beach areas of Cox's Bazar (690.67 sqkm), and tourism and regional development plans. Disaster management, preparing a Smart City Model for Cox's Bazar, transport management, environment management, drainage and sanitation management, utilities and socio-economic development and sectoral plans are also the key features of the masterplan. To support the Vision 2041 announced by the Awami League government to turn Bangladesh into a developed country with high income, the CoxDA is undertaking several development projects. Read more: Second stakeholder meeting on energy master plan Sunday, 'final report by Dec' The projects include cable car installation from Cox's Bazar to Sabrong and Cox's Bazar to Moheshkhali, introducing watersports and other amusement facilities on the sea beach, indoor amusement park, CoxDA Marina Bay Resort, CoxDA Condominium Project, Eco-resort in Moheshkhali, protecting lives and boosting marine tourism, preparing a roadmap to tap potential of the blue economy, renewable energy project, installation of central sewerage treatment plant (STP), water treatment plan and introducing sea-plane, cruise ship and helicopter service and preparing integrated costal zone management plan. CoxDA chairman Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar said they are working to set up the central STP in Cox's Bazar, otherwise the Bay of Bengal will be a dead zone with huge amounts of sewerage going into the sea. "Once the projects are completed, they can immensely contribute to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals," he said. He added that they have already completed several projects that include reforming and rehabilitating Cox's Bazar's traditional Laldighi, Goldighi, markets and ponds, and building a multi-storey building for CoxDA. Read more: Master plan for tourism in Bangladesh to be formulated in Dec: State Minister The ongoing development schemes of the CoxDA are: building residential flats for CoxDA, sculpture and modern passenger shed at Moheshkhali, reforming and expanding the main road of Cox's Bazar (Holiday Crossing-Bazatghata-Larpara Bus Stand).

Bangladesh’s first tourism master plan has not yet been formulated three months after deadline. Last year, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md Mahbub Ali, said that the tourism master plan will be completed by December 2022. “The formulation of the master plan will be completed in December this year and through its implementation, the country’s tourism sector will enter a new era,” he said on October 5, 2022, while speaking at a program on the occasion of World Tourism Day. As of April 2023, the tourism master plan, however, is yet to be finalized. Read More: Environment of Cox’s Bazar at stake: Out of over 500, only 4 hotels have own STP According to civil aviation and tourism ministry sources, the draft of the master plan is ready. It will be finalized once the stakeholders have given their approval. Kazi Wahidul Alam, editor of the Bangladesh Monitor (a travel trade publication), urged to form the master plan promptly and said, “Only building infrastructure isn’t enough for tourism development. A masterplan should be implemented soon.” “Issues like visa complication need to be addressed in the master plan,” he said. Shiblul Azam Koreshi, president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), said there is no timely tourism development plan like in other countries. Read More: FBCCI urges policy support in tourism development “The tourism industry operates in a bureaucratic and chaotic manner. There are no tourism professionals in government-related institutions,” he said. He called for expanding visa-on-arrival for tourists. Toufiq Rahman, secretary general of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), asked for better inter-ministerial coordination. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali told UNB that the master plan will be implemented soon. Read More: Tourism banned indefinitely in Bandarban’s Rowangchhari and Ruma upazilas “We are taking stakeholders’ feedback. It will be finalized once we are done adjusting their suggestions,” he said. “If the tourism master plan is implemented, it will contribute 10 percent to the GDP,” he claimed. “We are considering appointing one of the five additional district commissioners in each district to oversee the tourism sector,” he said. He also stated that the government is working to make the visa application process easier for tourists. Read More: Bangladesh International Travel and Tourism Expo draws to close Bangladesh Tourism Board has signed a 30-year master plan agreement with the international consulting firm IPE Global to develop the country’s tourism sector. The master plan’s development began on January 1, 2020, and was to be completed by June 30, 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not completed on time and was postponed until December 2022. The total contract value, including VAT and AIT, is approximately Tk 28 crore 66 lakh.

The government is going to formulate a master plan for tourism in Bangladesh to take the tourism industry forward, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali said today. “The formulation of the master plan will be completed in December this year and through its implementation, the country’s tourism sector will enter a new era,” he said while speaking at a programme on the occasion of World Tourism Day in Dhaka. Read: Tourism is a powerful driver for sustainable develop Earlier, in the day, he also inaugurated a rally, a food festival and a live cooking show of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sincere about the development of tourism and if we work together, we can achieve our target soon,” said the minister. Noting that, there is immense possibility in the tourism sector, Mahbub said, “We have to highlight our history, culture, heritage and nature to tourists and establish these elements as brands.” Read: Sundarbans to have 4 more eco-tourism centres He also stressed the need for publicity of Bangladesh’s positive features so that foreign tourists are drawn. The state minister also said that the additional deputy commissioner will be given the charge to coordinate the development work in the tourism sector in the districts of Bangladesh.

International Farakka Committee on Saturday demanded the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan to protect three crore people living in its basin in Bangladesh from heavy flood and river banks erosion. Atiqur Rahman Salu, chairman of IFC, voiced the demand in an opinion exchange meeting at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club. The IFC chairman said this while the promise for signing a treaty on the Teesta is lingering on for 12 years, in the dry season flow of the river is being diverted unilaterally from the Gazal Doba Barrage in West Bengal, India for more than two decades. No change to this unfortunate plight of the Teesta is in sight, he said adding, “We therefore believe that the government of Bangladesh should urgently take sustainable measures to minimize the adverse effects of drought-flood vagaries to the people of Teesta Basin in Bangladesh’. Dr. S.I. Khan, senior vice-president, IFC Bangladesh, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, coordinator and Ataur Rahman Ata, joint secretary of IFC and Rafiqul Islam Azad, former president of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity were present at the opinion exchange and answered questions of journalists. Atiqur Rahman Salu said no treaty has been signed on the Teesta although the two countries were supposed to do so in 2011. The Irony is that even in this rainy season Nilphamari, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts have experienced several waves of flood and riverbank erosion. Read: FM Momen rues long delay in Teesta deal with India He said devastating floods in the rainy season and dry rivers and drought in the dry season have brought environmental disasters to Bangladesh. “Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to go on a visit to India soon. It is our belief that she would discuss with the Indian Prime Minister in clear terms the plight of world’s largest delta Bangladesh that has originated from the common rivers,” he said. He also said this is urgent because being cut off from the common rivers the lush green environment of the country is getting destroyed day by day, damaging agriculture, breeding and feeding grounds of indigenous fish, and industry. People are losing livelihoods and becoming displaced. The IFC chairman noted that China has come up with an idea to implement a Teesta management and restoration master plan with nearly $1 billion in loan (about 10,000 crore Taka). The Power Construction Corporation or Power China wants to implement the master plan. Work on this project was supposed to begin in 2021, but has not started yet. He said, “ If water was available there was no need of alternative thinking. Given the present uncertain situation it’s not wise to sit idle. When the urge to restore the flow of the river from upstream will come under the dictates of nature the Bangladesh part of the Teesta will get a new lease of life.” IFC recommended that the Teesta Master plan can be expanded to cover Karatoa, Punarbhaba, and Atrai in the old Teesta basin. This will ensure overall development of the Northwestern part of Bangladesh. This master plan is no substitute for basin-based integrated management of the river to keep it alive, he said adding that it can help improve the lot of the people of the Teesta basin by protecting them from the annual floods and bank erosions.

A planned “integrated energy-power sector master plan” is likely to be ready by November this year. Japanese firm—The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)—gave such an indication when a team of the firm met State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at his office in the ministry on Wednesday. The Tokyo-based consulting firm has been working to prepare the integrated master plan following an agreement between the Bangladesh government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed on March 15 in 2021. Ichiro Kutani, the head of the IEEJ team, informed that his firm has planned to submit a draft copy of the proposed integrated plan by October this year to facilitate open discussion on it. After a meeting with the stakeholders, the integrated master plan will be submitted in November, he told the state minister.   JICA power and energy advisor Toshiyuki Kobayash and Bangladesh presentative Taro Katsurai were present on the occasion. Official sources said this is for the first time, the government has moved to formulate an integrated master plan comprising both power and energy issues. Previously, separate master plans were framed for the power sector and energy sector and there was little coordination between the two sectors.     Nasrul Hamid has suggested the IEEJ team that the integrated plan should be the basis of sustainable infrastructure in the power and energy sectors which will ensure a balance between the demand and supply under an efficient management. The fuel mix strategy should have a reflection of current and future energy sources. It should outline a pattern of consumption in different sectors including agriculture, he added.     Official sources said the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR ) has moved to formulate the integrated energy and power sector master plan with a focus on the "3E+S" concept, after responding to the suggestions of energy experts. According to sources, '3E+S' concept will be pursued in preparing the new plan for ensuring 'Energy Security', 'Economic Efficiency', and 'Environment' while focusing on 'Safety'. As per the contract, the Japanese firm is supposed to complete the formation of the plan with a timeframe of 30 months from the signing of the agreement. JICA, which has been funding the entire project through its grant under a deal with the MPEMR, said that in view of the need for a long-term low-carbon energy policy, it will support the formulation of the integrated energy and power master plan. The Japanese donor agency had earlier provided the financial and technical support for formulating all the previous power system master plans (PSMPs) until 2016. Official sources said the JICA consultant will study the country's 8th Five-year Development Plan, gas sector master plan 2017, and revise the power system master plant 2016 and other relevant policies/plans. It will prepare the prospects for economic development and energy demand forecast by 2050 with a focus on energy efficiency and conservation. In the existing power system master plan (PSMP) 2016, about 60,000 MW of power generation was targeted by 2041 in which primary fuel mix set at 70 per cent coming from coal and gas while the remaining 30 percent will be covered by liquid fuel, renewable, nuclear and other sources. READ: Bangladesh to formulate integrated energy-power sector master plan with focus on 3E+S concept The BPDB official data shows the country’s total generation capacity is 25,235 MW of which grid-connected generation is 22,348 MW up to April this year while the remaining 2887 is captive generation, mainly produced by industry owners, exclusively for running their own industries. The country’s highest generation was recorded 14,782 MW on April 16 meaning that the surplus capacity is 10,453 MW (about 41 per cent). Currently, 50 percent of power is being generated from gas while less than 10 percent is from coal and about 30 percent of power is generated from imported liquid fuel.

The 5th BIMSTEC Summit, scheduled to be held on March 30, is likely to adopt the long-awaited BIMSTEC transport connectivity master plan, says State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam. This plan, he said, will put new impetus in implementation of multi-modal connectivity projects involving the member states towards regional integration in the Bay of Bengal region. Though the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the momentum, the 5th BIMSTEC Summit will be held this month after four years since the 4th BIMSTEC Summit held in 2018. This summit will be hosted by current chair Sri Lanka. The 5th BIMSTEC Summit will be an opportunity to review and reflect what had worked and what did not, said the State Minister. “It will be an opportunity to refresh and renew their commitment to strengthen the BIMSTEC Process in all respects,” he said. Also read: Shahriar meets Lekhi in Delhi At the impending BIMSTEC Summit, Alam said, a substantive number of issues are expected to be high on the agenda of the leaders for their consideration and adoption.

Speakers at the consultation on the formulation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) on Monday underscored the need for a master plan covering all the coastal districts to address the challenges of climate changes and mainstream adaptation efforts.The consultation discussed major climatic risks in different coastal districts, adaptation strategies of the farmers and determinants of the choice of those strategies.Jhalokathi and other coastal districts are vulnerable to increasing salinity of its groundwater as well as surface water resources, especially along the coast, due to increases in sea level as a direct impact of global warming.The consultation was held at the conference room of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Jhalokathi. Also read: Saline water invasion: Many in coastal Bagerhat taking to rainwater for survivalAdditional Secretary of the MoEFCC and National Project Director of the NAP Formulation Project Md Mizanul Haque Chowdhury was present as the Chief Guest while Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC was present as the Special Guest. Deputy Commissioner of Jhalokathi Md Johor Ali chaired the consultation.The consultation was jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Economic Relations Division (ERD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF).Participants opined that the livelihood of smallholder farmers is affected by climatic risks such as cyclones, increasing soil and water salinity, storm surges and heavy rainfall that can result in flooding and water-logging. They stressed a master plan to address these challenges.Jashim Uddin Haider, deputy commissioner of Barishal, said that scarcity of fresh water in the dry season, increased number of chars (small islands formed by silt), riverbank erosion and salinity intrusion are key challenges posed by climate change.“To turn Bangladesh into a welfare state, we must address these challenges” he said. Also read: CSOs, MPs demand Tk 150 bn for coastal protectionMonirul Islam Talukder, president of Jhalokathi Chamber of Commerce said, “River erosion is killing us – stopping erosion should be our priority to make our development efforts sustainable.”Hemayet Uddin Himu, president, Committee of the Concerned Citizens said that In addressing the challenges of climate change and mainstream adaptation efforts, Government should adopt a master plan covering all 19 coastal districts.Mahmudur Rahman Parvez, correspondent of Prothom Alo Jhalokathi said that Waste management is a serious concern in Jhalokathi which is emitting methane. “If we don’t urgently address this, it will wreak havoc on the environment and affect the livelihood of the people.”Rahim Reza, Jhalokathi correspondent of Ajker Patrika mentioned that Although Jhalokathi is better covered by the forests compared to other districts in Bangladesh, the rampant establishment of sawmills is likely to turn this district into a deforested zone in the coming days.A K M Azad Rahman, Programme Officer-Climate Change, UNDP said that UNDP will provide all-out support to Bangladesh in combatting climate change. “We are closely working with the government in designing sustainable projects in coastal regions”, he added.Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik said that NAP will be the guiding policy document for our adaptation efforts and will supplement all the national-level planning.“Through the consultation, we are delegating its ownership to you. For successful implementation of NAP, we will need a partnership with both at the national and local level”, he said.Md Mizanul Haque Chowdhury said that NAP will be harmonized with the national planning process and supplement the Annual Development Programme, Five Year Plan, Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, etc.He emphasised raising awareness to combat climate change, protect the environment and mainstream adaptation efforts.Md Johor Ali said that rainwater harvesting can be effecting adaptation strategy for the coastal regions.He suggested smart designing of climate change related projects so that it brings the desired results.While delivering the keynote, Malik Fida A Khan, executive director of the CEGIS said that NAP is a participatory and country-driven process and would address the medium to long term adaptation needs of Bangladesh and turn her into a climate-resilient country in the long run.He added that NAP would specifically address the climate vulnerability of the coastal regions, address the existing capacity gaps and establish a knowledge management system on climate change adaptation.

Libraries are an integral part of universities as those offer access to all the academic resources to their teachers and students. But Dhaka University (DU) libraries are "definitely" not what they should be. The DU that boasts of being the best among the country’s public universities has failed to bring its libraries in the flow of teaching and scholarly efforts although academic libraries are evolving with the advancement of technology. The university stepped into its 100th year in 2021 and is celebrating its centenary with a yearlong programme, keeping its many issues unresolved -- its libraries are one of those. Read: Buzz back as in-person classes resume at Dhaka University Now it is a daily fight for students to get quiet spaces at its libraries to study. No initiative has been taken in the last 11 years for the expansion of the libraries to meet the growing requirements of its students, many students told UNB recently. It is quite surprising that the university authorities have no separate plan to expand its library facilities other than having a 15-year "Master Plan", said a university official. “The Master Plan obviously has a component to expand library facilities. But to see that happen, the students will have to wait for nearly 15 years,” the official said, wishing anonymity.      The number of students at the university is increasing each year but the libraries have not been expanded accordingly, making the regular students reluctant about entering the libraries, said some students while talking to UNB. Read Top Bookstore Cafés in Dhaka: 6 Places Bringing Back the Joy of Reading They alleged that outsiders and irregular students usually keep library tables occupied to take preparations for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations and other govt recruitment tests, depriving the regular students of reading facilities. Besides, insufficient books, lack of access to resources and washrooms have made the libraries unpleasant for many.     

Dhaka South City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday said they are expecting that the re-excavation work of Buriganga Old Channel will begin from February. Taposh said this while talking to reporters after visiting the prospective site for the construction of a bridge in Loharpul area adjacent to Kamrangirchar dam. Taposh said, “We will establish a central commercial  zone at Kamrangirchar and we will have to construct two bridges to ensure communication facilities for the future activities. Today we are visiting with our experts, planners and our chief engineers to see where we can build the bridges.” Read: Wasa MD not implementing 2011 order on Buriganga pollution willingly: HC Some parts of the Buriganga Old Channel have already been freed from the occupiers. The DSCC and the Dhaka district administration will conduct a joint operation from the next week to free the remaining parts of the Buriganga Old Channel which is still under occupation, he said. Mayor Taposh said that these activities were being carried out under a master plan. “We are giving attention to everything under the master plan. Alongside the river re-excavation at Kamrangirchar, the construction of the bridges we will turn the dam road into a six-lane one,” It’s a very important and big road system plan that will become visible gradually, the mayor added.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) is preparing a 10-year master plan to face post-LDC challenges in trade and commerce and determine the necessary strategies for logistics in the coming days. FBCCI President Jashim Uddin said this at a press conference held at the FBCCI office on Sunday. After emerging as a developing country from a least developed one, he said numerous opportunities will be created for Bangladesh and the FBCCI is formulating the master plan to avail of the opportunities. “Businesses will create demands for new products.. The size of the economy will also get bigger. Once the implementation of various infrastructure projects taken up by the government is completed, foreign investment will also increase. Then the capacity of transporting goods and ports will also have to be increased,” the president of the apex trade body said. Also read: 25% price hikes of construction materials: FBCCI urges government to curb price He said the biggest challenge in the post-LDC period is to increase sector-based capacity to meet the changing global demand. “To address this challenge, the FBCCI is going to set up an innovation centre to enhance the capacity of domestic industries. The concept paper will be submitted to the government next month.” Jashim Uddin said North South University is working with the FBCCI on Circular Economy and recycling. The FBCCI President hopes that with the completion of these ongoing activities, power generation and recycled products from the country's waste will increase. The press conference was organized on the occasion of “Bijoyer 50 Bochhor: Lal Shobujer Mohotshab” a 16-day gala celebration. Also present at the press conference were FBCCI Senior Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Vice President MA Momen, Md Aminul Hoque Shamim, Amin Helaly, Salahuddin Ahmed and MA Razzak Khan Raj. Also read: 50 years of Independence: PM inaugurates FBCCI’s gala celebration