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Head lines Peaceful environ a must to develop tourism : PM BSS, DHAKA, The Independent Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday underscored the need for a safe, secure and peaceful environment to develop tourism in the country. "We must remember that tourism will not flourish only through infrastructure development, and having hotels and motels with modern amenities", she said at a function after formally inaugurating the newly constructed extension of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday morning. Terming peaceful environment as a pre-requisite for development of tourism, Begum Zia sought sincere cooperation of all to make her government’s diverse activities a success. She also called upon the affluent sections of the society to discover the heritage and natural beauties of their own country before touring abroad. Minister’s, MPs, foreign diplomats and the city elite, among others, attended the inaugural function held at the ‘Winter Garden’ of the county’s first 5-star hotel that came into operation on November 15, 1966 as Hotel Intercontinental and later turned into Dhaka Sheraton Hotel in 1984. Expansion of the 99.68 per cent state-owned hotel, under a Taka 65.85 crore project, was completed last month. The new facilities created following expansion of the hotel include 55 guest rooms, (55 standard rooms and 5 junior suits), two-level basement car park with a capacity of 120 cars, two conference rooms, two meeting rooms, two lounges, one board room, one prayer room with ablution facilities, two fire stairs and atrium lobby. In celebration of the inauguration of the expansion, a week-long programme of attractive and colourful events is taking place at the hotel. The programme styled’ Sheraton Hospitality and Food Festival, 2003’ includes a tourism and trade fair and Thai food fair from September 2 to 9, day-long Bangladeshi food festival on September 14, raffle draw and special discount on room rents for Bangladeshi guests. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, former State Minister of the same ministry Maj (Retd) Abdul Mannan, MP, ministry’s Secretary M Shafiqul Islam and Vice-President of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Erhard Hotter also spoke at the inaugural ceremony that included a cultural performance. Begum Zia also underscored the need for portraying a positive image of the country abroad in order to develop tourism. She urged all concerned to be much more pro-active in this regard. Referring to the country’s potentials, the Prime Minister asked the people concerned to invest their best efforts to turn the country’s tourism assets into tourist attractions. Bangladesh is a land of natural beauty and there are many beautiful places, including the coastal areas where tourism sites can be built up. There are also architectural relics and artifacts all over the country, she said. "Organising seminars and symposiums will not do the job,"she said adding: We have to work harder for actual development of tourism industry in our country and we have to do it with utmost sincerity. The Prime Minister expressed her belief that it is possible to attract tourists with the country’s glorious heritage, wealth of natural beauties, warmth of the people and hospitality, keeping the religious and social values intact. She said infrastructure development, including construction of hotels and motels and enhancement of facilities are essential for the tourism industry to flourish. "The management of hotels and motels will have to ensure that not only the tourists, but also foreign delegates, investors, businessmen and others can be provided hospitality of their choice and according to their needs," she said. The Prime Minister referred to the development science and technology and the challenge of globalisation and said we have to face the challenges and exploit the opportunities at the same time. She briefly described some measures taken by her government for development of tourism and told the function that four new motels with modern facilities will be inaugurated in Khagrachari, Bandarban, Benapole and Sagardari in the next 15 days. Saudi support to Bangladesh candidate reiterated UNB, DHAKA, The Independent The OIC General Secretariat has circulated note verbale to all member countries of the top forum of Muslim countries to inform them of the Saudi government’s support to Bangladesh’s candidate for the position of OIC Secretary General. Recently the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah launched the move after a request to the Secretariat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Issuing of the note verbale to member countries by the OIC General Secretariat will likely to brighten the chance for Bangladesh candidate to secure the top post. Earlier, Saudi Arabia extended support to the Bangladesh candidature for the top executive post of OIC both verbally and officially. Health Minister Dr Khondokar Mosharraf Hossain as a special envoy of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia went to Jeddah to seek support of the Saudi government. Bangladesh has nominated Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP, Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Parliament Affairs for OIC Secretary General for the term starting on January 1,2005. Gender and Media Monitoring Action Forum formed STAFF REPORTER, The Independent Different social and cultural organisations, NGOs and individuals yesterday formed a common platform on issues of gender at a discussion yesterday held in the city. The newly formed forum styled "Gender and Media Monitoring Action Forum" comprises seven members, with Selima Hossain, a noted novelist, as its convenor. Other members of the committee are Muhammad Jahangir, Executive Director of Center for Development (CD), Dr. Giti Ara Nasrin, Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University (DU), Faozia Khandoker, Deputy Director of Proshika, Ranjan Karmaker, Executive Director of Steps Towards Development (STD), Masum Reza of Telicine Subtext and Journalist Naimul Islam Khan. The Forum raised a four-point demands to the civil society. The demands include mobilise opinion against bid to build negative image of women, proper representation of women in media and providing space for equal participation of women in media. |
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