Government mulls developing infrastructures to boost tourism

The government has initiated the construction of necessary infrastructure development including jetties of Sabrang and Jaliar Islands in Cox’s Bazar to boost tourism in the country.

In this regard, the Shipping Ministry has taken a project titled ‘Construction of Ancillary Facilities along with Jetty of Mirsrai and Sandwip of Chattogram, Sonadia Island of Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf Part’, has been sent to the Planning Commission for approval, a senior official of the Planning Ministry told The Business Post.

If the project will be implemented, it is expected to ensure smooth and safe movement of passengers and provide modern landing facilities along with marine tourism facilities and construction of necessary infrastructures for loading and unloading of bulk cargo and goods in the project area, the official added.

The total cost of the project is estimated at Tk 1,913 crore which will come from the government exchequer. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will implement the project by June 2024.

The proposed Sabrang Tourism Park will be the first exclusive tourism park at Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar district encompassing an area of 1,027 acres. 

The park, located in front of this beach, and it takes only half an hour to go by sea to Saint Martin, according to the project proposal.

So, the development of jetty and landing facilities is needed that will provide new dimension for passengers’ traveling, it said.

The proposal also said Jaliar Island is a small island in the middle of Naf River. There is no human settlement in the area in Hrilah Union of Teknaf Upazila. Naf Tourism Park is being constructed on 271.93 acres of land.

The park will have all modern tourist facilities. Landing facilities with jetties are required for transportation in the area, it added. Under the project, necessary infrastructure will be developed also in Mirsarai, Swandip and Sonadia Island for boosting the tourism, the proposal added.

An official of Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission said, “If the project will be implemented, the transportation and travel costs of the people of Cox’s Bazar district, Teknaf, Katubdia and South-Western region in the South-East region of Bangladesh will be reduced and time will be saved.”