Patenga to become international-standard tourism hub, Khejurtala to be developed as green tourism centre
The Chattogram district administration has taken up an initiative to open up the nearly two-and-a-half-kilometre beach from Patenga to Khejurtala and redesign it. International-standard tourism infrastructure will be built at Patenga, while Khejurtala will be developed as a green tourism centre, preserving its natural beauty.
The aim of the initiative is to attract domestic and foreign tourists and create new opportunities to earn foreign currency from tourism.
The plans were announced on Sunday (November 8) during a cleanliness drive and 'Beautiful Chattogram' programme at Khejurtala beach. The event was chaired by Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Jahidul Islam Mia.
Md. Aminul Islam, director general (secretary) of the National Institute of Local Government (NILG), said the two-and-a-half-kilometre stretch of Khejurtala beach is unique in its natural beauty. Both sunrise and sunset can be enjoyed from there, and the area can be developed into an attractive tourism centre by using that potential. He said the joint cleanliness and awareness activities of the district administration and the city corporation would play an important role in protecting the environment, preventing dengue and developing the tourism sector. He stressed that such initiatives should continue.
Dr. Shahadat Hossain, administrator of Chattogram City Corporation, said tourism could become the fourth largest strength of the country's economy, alongside the garment industry, agriculture and remittance income. He stressed the need to build international-standard specialised tourism centres. Dr. Shahadat Hossain said that if Khejurtala beach is developed into a world-class tourism centre, it would create opportunities for huge foreign currency and revenue earnings by attracting foreign tourists.
Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin described the district administration's weekly cleanliness drive as an effective initiative. He said regular cleanliness activities help reduce the dengue outbreak, and expressed the resolve to modernise Chattogram's tourism centres and turn the whole district into a model of cleanliness.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Jahidul Islam Mia said the district administration has been working since July to make Chattogram clean, beautiful and tourism-friendly. As part of that effort, the plan to redesign the Patenga and Khejurtala beaches has been taken up. The deputy commissioner said, 'We want to open up the entire beach, from the West Point of Patenga to the far end of Khejurtala. The area will be decorated beautifully, but Khejurtala's natural green environment will be preserved as much as possible.'
Jahidul Islam said a meeting held on Thursday night decided to develop Patenga beach as an international-standard tourism centre, and the necessary infrastructure work has already begun.
He said Patenga and Khejurtala would offer tourism environments with distinct characters: modern tourism infrastructure will be built at Patenga, while green surroundings and natural beauty will take priority at Khejurtala.
Highlighting Khejurtala's tourism potential, the deputy commissioner said they want to introduce the beach to the world anew. Its clean air, green environment and the beauty of sunrise and sunset will attract tourists, he said. Describing tourism as a promising sector for earning foreign currency, Jahidul Islam Mia said that alongside remittance sent by expatriates and the garment industry, tourism also offers opportunities to earn foreign currency. If Chattogram's beaches and natural beauty are properly presented internationally, the sector can make an important contribution to the national economy, he said.
He observed, however, that building infrastructure alone is not enough to attract foreign tourists. He stressed ensuring tourists' safety, service quality and necessary facilities, adding that the administration, tourist police, media and everyone involved in tourism must work together, just as other countries serve foreign tourists.
The deputy commissioner said the divisional administration, the district administration and Chattogram City Corporation are working jointly to give Chattogram a beautiful look, and he sought the cooperation of city corporation administrator Dr. Shahadat Hossain in implementing the initiative.
Jahidul Islam said not only Patenga and Khejurtala, but Chattogram's other promising and relatively unknown tourism areas will also be highlighted in phases. He sought the media's cooperation in introducing their natural beauty internationally.
On the cleanliness drive, he said a cleanliness campaign is held every Saturday in Chattogram in line with the prime minister's directive to prevent the dengue outbreak. This week's drive was held on Sunday instead, as a state programme was scheduled on November 7.
The deputy commissioner said, 'We are not only doing cleanliness work, we are also working to beautify Chattogram. We need to create places of wholesome joy so that our children can grow up in a beautiful environment.' Describing the initiative to redesign Khejurtala beach as a new journey in tourism development, the deputy commissioner said, 'Today a new journey has begun for us. We will work not only on cleanliness but also on how to beautify this beach. We will invite tourists from around the world to come here.'
He said the district administration's work to present Chattogram's natural beauty to the world and build a tourism-friendly environment will continue.
