RAJSHAHI, July 5, 2024 (BSS) - Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan, MP, has said Bangladesh will benefit from the India-Nepal-Bhutan connectivity.

"Connectivity means development along with acceleration of trade and business," he said while inaugurating the Bangladesh Festival at Collectorate playground here this afternoon as chief guest.

Salient features of the festival are showcasing of varieties of sweetmeat, mangoes, silk finished products, crafts and tourism attractive materials in 67 stalls.

Bangladesh Tourism Board organized the three-day festival supported by the Commissioner Office of Rajshahi division, SME Foundation, Food Safety Authority and BSCIC.

With Secretary to the ministry Mokammel Hoossain in the chair, the inaugural meeting was addressed, among others, by Prof Shafiqur Rahman, MP, Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Aftab Hossain Pramanik and Chairman of SME Foundation Dr Masudur Rahman as special guests.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, Deputy Inspector General of Police Anisur Rahman, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Biplob Bijoy Talukder and Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Shamim Ahmed also spoke.

Faruque Khan said during her visit to India, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tried her best to boost Bangladesh's connectivity with India, Nepal and Bhutan through Rajshahi.

With this breakthrough, trade and business of Rajshahi people will be elevated, he hoped.

Faruk Khan also said there is a direction from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to him towards Rajshahi's development. He said there are also plans for establishing a tourism city in the shoals of the Padma river and construction of a modern resort in Chapainawabganj.
 
He told the audience that they have already been working for diversified development of Rajshahi Airport along with widening of its runway. "We are thinking about transforming it into an international airport," he added.