UNB, Dhaka :
Voicing her government’s firm resolve to turn Bangladesh into a secure abode for people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the country’s soil would not be allowed to be used for any arms or drug smuggling or any kind of terrorism act.
“We don’t want to let Bangladesh soil to be used by anyone for any anti-social, terrorist or any kind of subversive act. For this we’re taking adequate steps,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while making her introductory remarks before the officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and various organisations and institutions under the ministry at its conference room.
This was Sheikh Hasina’s first visit to the ministry since formation of her government for the second successive time. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon also spoke on the occasion.
Noting that gold smuggling had taken place very often in the past and that gone unnoticed, the Prime Minister said now security measures at airports have been strengthened for which there have been frequent incidents of gold hauls these days at the country’s airports.
Hasina said such smuggling has long been taking place and this is not possible to stop it overnight as many international gangs are involved in it. “I believe we’ll be able to put much more security measures in place in the future.”
Highlighting the importance of this Ministry comprising tourism and Biman Bangladesh Airlines which draws international attention, Hasina underscored the need for identifying the routes which would be profitable for Bangladesh Biman, especially concentrating on predominantly Bengali areas across the world as there are some 80 lakh Bengalis living abroad and they want to choose their own country’s aircraft.
She said, the geographical location of Bangladesh has given the country certain advantage to become a hub or bridge between the east and the west while Bangladesh can avail themselves of the opportunity of refuelling facilities for many international flights.
Listing her government’s efforts to modernise the national flag carrier through commissioning newer aircraft from Boeing, Hasina said her government in its previous term took steps to improve the services of Biman as her government did after assuming office in 1996. Highlighting the potential of Bangladesh’s tourism sector, especially the world’s longest sea beach in Cox’s Bazar and the Sundarbans, Hasina said a joint initiative could be taken with Nepal and Bhutan for attracting tourists from abroad.
If joint steps are possible, she said, the foreign tourists after enjoying mountains and skating in the snows in Nepal and Bhutan could come to Bangladesh to enjoy the unbound natural beauties.
The Prime Minister also suggested creating exclusive tourism areas only for the foreign tourists with necessary amenities.
Regarding the visits of tourists to coastal areas during the rainy season as well as bathing in the sea beach, the premier said necessary rules should be followed to avert accidents as there is often trend of violating the rules. “We’ll have to be tough and alert in this regard…we’re now introducing tourist police ….there should be trained manpower for bay watch.”
