Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated the three-day Bharat-Bangladesh Paryatan Utsav- 2022 at Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala on Sunday evening in a gala colourful programme where Bangladesh MP Dr. Md. Abdus Sahid and others were present. The programme was presided over by Tripura Tourism Minister Pranajit Singha Roy.
The Festival- second of its kind -was organized to boost the tourism sector of both India , especially Tripura and Bangladesh based on the shared history, close bilateral relations and 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War in which Tripura played a key role.
Tripura Toursim Corporation had already taken up an ambitious project to protect, preserve and project the places scattered across the state which had once been related to the Bangladesh Liberation War. Asian Development Bank experts were helping the corporation in this regard. It was expected that the places related to Bangladesh Liberation war would attract a good number of Bangladeshi tourists in the state. Besides, there were also plans to boost the Health Tourism keeping in mind the Bangladeshi nationals who cross the state to go to South India for treatment.
After inaugurating, the Deputy Chief Minister said, the tourism potential in Tripura is immense and the state government is giving priority to take the Tourism sector to new heights.
Dev Varma urged the Bangladeshi investors to take advantage of the relaxations being granted in the industrial sector through several schemes like SEZ and ease of doing business.
The Deputy Chief Minister who also holds the Finance Portfolio requested the Bangladesh government to encourage investment in this part of the region.
He said, “We feel industrialists from Bangladesh also take advantage of the several incentives being offered from the part of the Indian government through SEZ in Sabroom and connectivity. The Bangladesh government should encourage industries to show interest in Tripura and become a part of the state’s development.” He said, both the countries will be immensely benefited and scope of business tourism shall flourish,
“We are neighbors not only geographically but also historically and culturally. The sole purpose of such events is to strengthen the strong friendship we share for decades”, the minister said.
Dr Md Abdus Shahid, MP and Chairman of Committee on Estimates and Former Chief Whip of Bangladesh Parliament also spoke on the occasion and observed that tourism plays an important role in strengthening the ties between two countries.Sahid remembered Tripura’s contributions during the 1971 Liberation War. He said the Tourism festival would strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The Bangladesh delegate said Tourism industry plays an important role in economic growth.
Tourism minister Pranajit Singha Roy, on the other hand, told the gathering that Tripura is second in the North East to receive foreign tourists after Assam and most of the tourists come from Bangladesh.
Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dipak Majumder, chairman of Srimangal Upazilla Bhanulal Roy, secretary of Tripura Tourism department- Kiran Gitte, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner, Agartala- Arif Mohammad, Regional Director, Ministry of Tourism, North East- Sankha Subhra Devbarman among others were present in the inaugural ceremony.
A delegation of Bangladesh along with tour operators from West Bengal and North east participated in the inaugural ceremony that was followed by a cultural event.
Several singers from Bangladesh performed at the function while delegates from Bangladesh tasted the indigenous dishes prepared in the food festival.
Photo Courtesy Prasenjit Chakraborty
