Govt to introduce 6 double-decker tourist buses

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is planning to introduce six double-decker buses for tourists visiting heritage sites in old Dhaka, as well as scenic destinations across the country, with the aim to boost this sector.

BPC officials said the buses will meet European standards, and feature pantries, toilets, CCTV, tracking, and Wi-Fi facilities in an affordable package. The agency sent a revised budget of Tk 28.5 crore to the civil aviation and tourism ministry for approval on November 14.

They added that among the six buses, one will provide tours of old Dhaka’s Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil Museum, National Martyrs’ Memorial of Savar, and Sonargaon on weekly holidays.

Another bus will take sightseers to the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat via the Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Gopalganj’s Tungipara. Of the remaining four, two are for Sylhet and Jaflong, and two for Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf.

Providing more details, the agency’s Chairman Md Hannan Mia said, “Roofless luxury buses will take sightseers in destinations such the Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Gopalganj and Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat.

“The construction of a seven-storey hotel is nearing completion at the Khan Jahan Ali Mazar of Bagerhat, close to the Sundarbans. Tourist bus travelers will be able to stay at this hotel, then visit the shrine and engage in eco-tourism.”

BPC’s General Manager (Admin) Mohammad Ehsanul Kabir said, “Using public transports, middle-income people visit heritage, tourism and other sites with their families and friends on holidays. But the country lacks an adequate number of special bus services for tourism.

“With the six double-decker buses – having the capacity of 40 to 45 passengers each – provide transportation services to six tourist destinations, travelers will be able to sightsee with a comfort-level matching international standards.

The government had earlier introduced a couple of tourist buses in the Moulvibazar district for affordable and safe travel.

Moulvibazar is surrounded by tea estates and other tourist destinations such as the natural spring waterfall in Madhabkunda, the evergreen forest of Lawachara National Park, the Madhabpur Lake and the wetlands of Hakaluki Haor.

The Moulvibazar district administration took the initiative to make tourism in the region cost and budget-friendly.