Chattogram : Bangladesh requires a separate and dedicated tourism ministry to further harness the country's tourism potential. The industry can be the fourth largest contributor to the national GDP, given that necessary policy and infrastructure support are provided.

Dr Shahadat Hossain, Mayor, Chittagong City Corporation, said this as the chief guest, while formally inaugurating the fifteenth edition of the three-day Chattogram tourism fair at The Peninsula Chittagong hotel on May 15.

Titled as Chittagong Travel Mart (CTM) 2025, the fair was organized by The Bangladesh Monitor. Leading private sector airline US-Bangla Airlines and the popular online travel agency Buy Tickets are supporting the fair as partners.

"The Chittagong City Corporation is currently working to develop and promote new tourism products of the port city," informed the Mayor, urging the concerned authorities to upgrade Chattogram airport to facilitate the development of the sector further.

MA Malek, special guest and Editor of the Dainik Azadi; Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor, The Bangladesh Monitor; Uttam Prasad Pathak, Police Superin-tendent, Chatto-gram Tourist Police; and Md Kamrul Islam, General Mana-ger, US-Bangla Airlines; also addressed the inaugural ceremony.

Twenty-seven organizations from home and abroad showcased their products and services in 34 stalls at the Chittagong Travel Mart.

CTM 2025 concluded on May 17, 2025.