NARAYANGANJ: Tiger Tours Ltd (TTL), a private tour company, floated the tourist vessel ‘MV Tanguar Haor’ officially on Monday to attract foreign tourists and boost river tourism in the country.

The 43-meter vessel is ready to ply in all the rivers across the country.

TTL chairperson, also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and also former secretary and advisor of former caretaker government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury along with 10 other pioneer entrepreneurs started the journey of TTL in 2009.

Muyeed named the vessel remembering his childhood memories and aiming to unveil the beauty of Tanguar Haor, located in Dharmapasha and Tahirpur upazilas of Sunamganj District.

CEO Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury said that the fully air-conditioned watercraft is 43-meter long and 8.5-meter wide. It has 11 guest cabins of various types. Each has a bathroom ensuite with running hot and cold water facilities.

The cabins are well furnished with TV, refrigerator and wide window. The tourists can experience the beauty of the nature through their window, he added.

He further said that the vessel is equipped with solar panels and windmills for generating standby electricity and is protected by CCTV cameras, for security.

There is a conference cum lounge cum dining room for at least 60 tourists. A quality catering service is also available for the guests on board, he added.

TTL is a registered limited company. It consists of 11 entrepreneurs and 33 share holders of approved capital of Tk 10-crore with paid-up capital is Tk 7-crore and 89-lakh.

The boat takes groups in a leisurely journey across the enchanting waterways of Bangladesh on board the luxury vessel.

The CEO said that the main motive for engaging with tourism industry is to make Bangladesh a destination for foreign tourists, to show them the sights, sounds and artistic heritage of Bangladesh.

Moreover, the serene beauty of Bangladesh, lifestyle of the riverside people and flora and fauna in haor areas can be revealed to the tourists from home and abroad through a journey by MV Tanguar Haor, he added.

Muyeed Chowdhury said that it will introduce tourists to the unexplored beauty of the country along with the mighty rivers.

He added that with their efforts WTO has recognized the South West Silk Road from Bangladesh to China in ancient times.

He also said that Bangladesh has many historical places and wonderful natural spots which have a great opportunity to flourish the tourism industry.

He hoped that this industry can be more flourished if we can introduce our tourist places to the foreigners.

It can be an opportunity to earn huge foreign currency. It can also create employment opportunities for unemployed people, he added.

This industry needs to be more matured in inbound tourism but the domestic tourism has gained the satisfactory level, Muyeed Chowdhury further said.

However, all the seasons across the country is suitable for tourists, he added.

Pointing to the growing demand of the tourists he said, we have made the world class vessel MV Tanguar Haor and we wish to make more.

BDST: 1930 HRS, SEP 01, 2014