[🇧🇩] Bangladesh Tourism

[Bilal9]

PM wants ShareTrip to emerge as global travel brand​

Published: July 14, 2026 | 10:57 PM

2 min read

Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has pledged government backing to help ShareTrip, the country's leading homegrown travel-tech platform, grow into a globally recognized brand, saying policy support would be extended to help local startups expand abroad.

He made the remarks on July 14 as chief guest at the "Youth, Startups and the Bangladesh of Opportunities" event, organized by the ICT Division at the University of Dhaka.

The Prime Minister said a national startup policy is being prepared and that steps are underway to let Bangladeshi diplomatic missions abroad actively support companies seeking overseas expansion.

Speaking about ShareTrip specifically, he said, "We want to take this company to the global stage. ShareTrip has worked hard and deserves it."

He added that a successful global push by ShareTrip could pave the way for similar backing to be extended to other Bangladeshi startups and tech firms.

Observers see the comments as a strong government endorsement of the country's expanding travel-tech sector and part of a wider push to diversify exports and strengthen digital services.

ICT Adviser Rehan Asad said he had suggested ShareTrip focus its expansion efforts on the Middle East, calling it the region with the most promising growth prospects for Bangladeshi travel-tech firms.

ShareTrip Co-Founder and CEO Sadia Haque also spoke at the event, walking attendees through the company's growth story and outlining policy changes she believes are needed to help Bangladeshi tech firms compete globally.

Haque said startups need more than capital to thrive, pointing to the importance of supportive regulation and an ecosystem that treats young companies as partners rather than rivals.

She also called on the government to introduce a comprehensive national startups and innovation policy and proposed formal recognition of local online travel agencies along with a streamlined e-visa system to support tourism.

Launched in 2019, ShareTrip has grown into the country's largest homegrown travel-tech company, with a user base exceeding 2.7 million. It is also one of the few travel platforms worldwide with direct integration into Saudi Arabia's Nusuk system, run under the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The company counts Japan's Marubeni Corporation and state-backed Startup Bangladesh Limited among its investors.

Industry stakeholders say the Prime Minister's public support for ShareTrip could boost investor sentiment toward Bangladesh's digital travel space, and that follow-through on policy reform and overseas-expansion assistance would help local travel-tech firms build a stronger footprint across regional and global markets.

 

[Bilal9]

PM outlines plans to boost Bangladesh's tourism sector​

Published: July 15, 2026 | 02:21 PM

3 min read

Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the government considers tourism a central pillar for driving economic growth, creating jobs, and reducing poverty in Bangladesh, adding that authorities are drafting a long-term Tourism Master Plan to make the sector sustainable and better connected to the mainstream economy.

He said the upcoming master plan, based on the government's specific electoral pledges, will serve as the foundation for prioritizing and implementing future development projects. Simultaneously, work is progressing to update the National Tourism Policy to keep pace with shifting global trends.

The Prime Minister added that the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is working across the country to upgrade tourism infrastructure, expand facilities, and identify new destinations for visitors.

He made the comments on July 15 while answering a question from Cox's Bazar-3 Member of Parliament Lutfur Rahman during the 25th sitting of parliament's ongoing budget session.

The Prime Minister said the government has taken steps to transform Cox's Bazar into a world-class tourist destination, with international-standard tourism facilities planned on 132.44 acres of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation land under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Alongside this, construction is underway on a modern Tourism Training Institute at the Motel Laboni compound in Cox's Bazar, intended to build a skilled, international-standard workforce for the tourism and hospitality industry.

He noted that plans for international-standard hotels on Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation land in Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, and Khulna have moved forward significantly, with demand and feasibility studies already completed by Dhaka University's Institute of Business Administration (IBA) through the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

The Prime Minister said new Tourist Information Centers have opened at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and at Benapole, the nation's largest land port, to assist domestic and international travelers.

LED information boards are also being installed at major airports, land ports, and railway stations nationwide to make tourism-related information more accessible.

To keep visitors safe, volunteer teams have been deployed at popular tourist spots, and CCTV coverage is being expanded at these locations, the Prime Minister said, adding that feasibility studies for additional projects are ongoing, while virtual tours are also being prepared to promote the country's attractions to audiences abroad.

The government is working to create a more investment-friendly environment for both local and foreign investors in tourism, offering policy support to entrepreneurs while pushing major projects forward through public-private partnerships (PPP).

The Prime Minister added that efforts have also been intensified to promote eco-tourism, community-based tourism, and heritage and cultural tourism, alongside digital campaigns to strengthen Bangladesh's tourism brand internationally.

Participation in global tourism fairs and organized familiarization trips are also helping introduce the country's tourism offerings to audiences overseas, he said.

On improving service standards, the Prime Minister said the government regularly runs specialized training for tour operators, tourism entrepreneurs, amusement park staff, accommodation providers, and transport workers. Field-level training is also being offered to support community tourism, ethnic tourism, and water-based tourism, he said.

The National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, run under Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, remains the country's leading body for training tourism professionals. It currently offers programs such as a Diploma in Hotel Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Professional Chef Training, Front Office Operations, Housekeeping, and Food and Beverage Service.

The Prime Minister said the government has also launched an initiative to professionalize tour guiding, training guides specifically for archaeological, ethnic, and ecotourism sites. Under this program, the Parjatan Corporation trained 101 participants in May 2026.

He concluded by saying the government is coordinating closely with all relevant institutions to transform the country’s tourism sector into a modern, technology-driven, and foreign exchange-earning industry.