Dhaka hosts Bangladesh Houseboat Fair
The fair, organised by the Houseboat Owners Association of Bangladesh, is being held at the Shailaprapat Hall of the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation at Agargaon in the capital and will continue until Saturday
ATT Desk Report 
A three-day Bangladesh Houseboat Fair opened in the capital city of Dhaka on Thursday with a call to promote water-based tourism while protecting the country's fragile haor ecosystem and biodiversity.
The fair, organised by the Houseboat Owners Association of Bangladesh (HOAB), is being held at the Shailaprapat Hall of the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in Agargaon and will continue until Saturday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bangladesh Tourism Board Director Abu Selim Mahmud-ul Hasan stressed the need to ensure tourism development in the country's haor regions goes hand in hand with environmental conservation.
"We must promote tourism while preserving the natural environment and biodiversity of our haor areas," he said.
HOAB President Arafat Hossain said the fair aims not only to expand water-based tourism but also to raise awareness about protecting the ecological balance and biodiversity of the country's wetlands.
More than 120 houseboat operators are taking part in this year's fair, showcasing a wide range of services and tourism packages.
Speakers highlighted the potential of eco-friendly houseboat tourism to attract both domestic and international visitors to destinations such as Tanguar Haor, Kaptai Lake and other wetlands across the country.
They also emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts between the government and the private sector to develop a sustainable tourism industry that balances economic growth with environmental protection.
The organisers expressed hope that the fair would help promote Bangladesh's water-based tourism sector, strengthen the country's tourism industry and create greater economic opportunities for communities living in the haor regions.
