United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat has said tourism will play a key role in employment generation and strengthening the national economy. The government views the tourism sector not only as an important economic driver but also as a powerful means of job creation, regional development and cultural exchange, he said. The state minister came up with the remarks while speaking at the ‘TOAB International Tourism Award 2026’ organised by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday, according to a PID handout. To develop and promote the country’s 1,498 tourist attractions, the government has adopted an integrated tourism master plan covering eco-tourism, adventure tourism, religious tourism and cultural and heritage-based tourism, he added. He also invited proposals from TOAB for policy reforms aimed at further developing the tourism sector. He mentioned that although tourism currently contributes around 3 per cent to Bangladesh’s GDP, the government is working to raise this share to 8–9 per cent in the near future. He expressed hope for stronger public–private partnerships in developing tourism infrastructure. He also presented medals of honour to 13 organisations in 13 categories in recognition of their contributions to the tourism sector.

Widespread misinformation surrounding Saint Martin’s, Bangladesh’s only coral island, has triggered public confusion, with officials dismissing claims that the island is being handed over to a foreign power or converted into a military base. For months, misleading posts, videos and political statements circulating on social media have alleged foreign control or militarisation of the island. Edited images of warships, old videos from joint military drills and night-time visuals showing fire or light have been falsely portrayed as evidence of foreign military activity. Authorities say these claims are entirely baseless and unsupported by facts. The speculation escalated following the government’s restriction on tourism to protect Saint Martin’s fragile environment and biodiversity. How to Visit Saint Martin’s Island in Tourist Season 2025-26 Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Navy’s forward base on the island, said,”Saint Martin’s has an estimated population of around 11,000. Alongside the Navy, the Coast Guard, BGB and police are responsible for security here. There is a lot of propaganda suggesting the island is being taken over by another country. These claims rely on edited images or videos, often taken from joint exercises conducted with foreign navies,” he said.

Malaysian acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh Amir Farid Abu Hasan has said they received around 180,000 Bangladeshi tourists in 2019 making the Southeast Asian country one of the biggest tourist destinations for Bangladeshis.