Parliament passes bill to develop tourism industry

The Parliament today passed "Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2022" aiming at strengthening the corporation, and expand its scope to develop the tourism industry.

State Minister for Civil Aviation M Mahbub Ali placed the bill in the House which was unanimously passed by voice vote.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury presided over the sitting at that time.

The definition of a tourist has been changed in the draft law. According to the existing law, a person spending more than 24 hours but less than six months away from home for travel or leisure purposes is considered a tourist.

The time has been extended to one year in the draft law. If the person is away for work, he or she will not be termed as a tourist.

The objective of the amendment is to expand the corporation's scope to develop the tourism industry.

While placing the bill, the junior minister said if the law was amended, it would reduce unemployment, create new jobs, increase income and expand the scope of tourism.

The proposed law increased the authorised capital from Tk 15 crore to Tk 1,000 crore and the paid-up capital from Tk 5 lakh to Tk 400 crore.

Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam opposed the bill in parliament, saying that the existing law has a minimum time limit, which is absent in the draft law.

He also raised objections on a few other issues.

The bill states that the tourism corporation will be able to operate and manage duty-free shops.

The existing law stipulates that the board of a corporation may have a maximum of four members. The number has been increased to eleven in the draft law. The chairman of the board will now be the secretary of the ministry.