Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said tourism is one of the areas where Islamic countries can work together to explore greater opportunities and potentials, reports BSS.
"Tourism is the fastest growing sector greatly contributing to economy and employment across the world. Tourism is one of the areas where we have greater opportunities and potentials to work together," she said.
The prime minister was inaugurating the 10th Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM) at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel here today.
"There are numerous scopes and opportunities around us to work together for the betterment and welfare of the people of Muslim Ummah. In view of the current global scenario, the relationship among the OIC member-states should be based on mutual trust, understanding and cooperation," she said.
Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism AKM Shajahan Kamal presided over the function while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Faruk Khan were present as special guests.
OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen attended the function as Guest of Honour while Secretary of the tourism ministry S M Ghulam Farooque gave welcome address.
Chairperson of the 9th Session of ICTM (Niger), Representative of UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) also spoke on the occasion.
Sheikh Hasina said Islamic Economy has become a new phenomenon. It continues to grow and be operated by the Muslim community around the world. Because of the universal acceptability of the Islamic products and services, and a large consumer community, it has a huge potential to develop faith- based Islamic products and services, she said.
"These products and services have become popular even in the non-Muslim communities. We should work together to preserve and conserve the Islamic culture and heritages," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said travel and tourism have occupied a significant portion with other Islamic products and services. Halal Foods, Islamic Finance, Halal Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, Halal Tourism are some of the growing sectors of the Islamic economy. In order to develop these sectors, member-states of OIC need enhanced cooperation and partnerships both in public and private sectors.
The prime minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu used to believe in the synergies of mutual cooperation, and being imbued with collective notion, he joined the OIC in 1974.
"Since then, Bangladesh continues to maintain friendly relations with all OIC member-states and plays significant role to uphold Muslim Solidarity in pursuit of the great Islamic values of fraternity, justice, cohesion and inclusion as a whole," she said.
Terming Bangladesh as an ideal place for tourism the prime minister said Bangladesh has a lot of resources for developing tourism industry. Cox's Bazar, the longest unbroken beach in the world with the longest marine drive, the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and the home of the Royal Bengal Tiger, Kuakata, the daughter of the sea, are the great attractions for the tourists.