JEDDAH — Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Biman), the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, will be offering daily flights from Jeddah to Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet starting March 30, 2015. The additional flights (BG 036) will be on Sundays and Mondays, which will complement Biman's existing five weekly flights (B777-300ER) from Jeddah. In line with this new development, Elaf Aviation, Biman's General Sales Agent (GSA) for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), will be offering booking and ticketing slots for these new flights. Mohammed M.S. Binmahfouz, Vice President Elaf Aviation, said “we are proud to announce that Biman will now be flying in and out of Jeddah seven days a week. The new flights is a welcome move to address the growing demand for more flights to Bangladesh, while also helping promote the tourism of both countries. Interested travelers can contact our offices to book and purchase their tickets.” Bangladesh's tourist attractions include, historical and monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forests and tribal people, wildlife of various species. Bangladesh offers ample opportunities to tourists for angling, water skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, yachting, sea bathing as well as bringing one in close touch with pristine nature. In the south-eastern part, which is the Chittagong division, there are natural and hilly areas like Chittagong Hill Tracts, along with sandy sea beaches. The most notable beach, in Cox's Bazar, is a contender for the title of longest unbroken sandy sea beach in the world. Cox's Bazar is the longest natural unbroken sea beach in the world. In the south-western part, mainly the Khulna Division, there is the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest of the world with Royal Bengal Tiger and spotted deer. The historically and architecturally important sixty domed mosque in Bagerhat is a notable site. In the northeastern part, Sylhet division, there is a green carpet of tea plants on small hillocks. Natural reserved forests are great attractions. Migratory birds in winter, particularly in the haor areas, are also very attractive in this area. The Ministry of Tourism and The Civil Aviation Ministry designs national policies for the development and promotion of tourism. The World Travel and Tourism Council said in 2013 the travel and tourism industry in Bangladesh generated 1,281,500 jobs in 2012 or 1.8 percent of the country's total employment, which ranked Bangladesh 157 out of 178 countries. — SG
