Shawdesh Desk:

The Bangladesh Tourism Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was placed in Parliament on Monday to make the existing law more effective and time-befitting one, aiming to boost revenue from the tourism sector.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective scrutiny committee. The committee was asked to submit its report within a month.

As per the Bill, the authorised capital of the Corporation shall be Tk 1,000 crore instead of Tk 15 crore while the paid-up capital will be Tk 400 crore instead of Tk 5 lakh.

The existing law stated that the Board shall consist of a Chairman and not less than two and not more than four the whole tenure, and Directors to be appointed by the government.

With a four-member board of directors fixed by the existing law, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) now faces difficulties in taking prompt decisions in coordination with other ministries and departments concerned.

Since the ministries and departments concerned have no representative in the BPC board of directors, the BPC does get the desired assistance from the agencies for development of the country’s tourism sector.

The proposed law said the 11-member BPC board of directors will be formed with senior secretaries, secretaries and representatives of the ministries and departments concerned.

Two representatives to be nominated by the government from non-government organisations who are directly and institutionally associated with the tourism industry.

To constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Board the Chairman and at least five Directors shall be present. If, for any reason, the Chairman is unable to be present at a meeting of the Board, a Director authorised in writing by the Chairman shall preside over meetings.

The Head Office of the Corporation shall be in Dhaka while it may establish offices, branches or agencies at any other place or outside Bangladesh.

The function of the Corporation to promote and develop tourism, provide facilities, undertake measures and carry out all forms of activities connected with or ancillary to tourism.