Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation: Shipping Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain said that Bangladesh has immense potential for river-centric tourism. He made this statement on Friday (December 12, 2025) morning at a special river cruise event on the Dhaka-Chandpur-Dhaka route in the company of the historic ‘PS Mahsud’. The aim of this initiative, organized under the ‘Ambassadors’ Outreach Program’, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was to showcase the government’s progress in the riverine, maritime tradition, culture, and shipping sectors of Bangladesh to foreign diplomats.

On this day, PS Mahsud started his journey from the VIP terminal in Sadarghat to Chandpur with invited guests. During the day-long cruise, the diplomats enjoyed the scenic beauty of the river and partook in a lunch on board. A delightful cultural program was organized in their honor.

Shipping Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain and Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain were present as special guests at the event.

Furthermore, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Dr. Noorun Nahar Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asad Alam Siam, and other high-ranking officials of the ministry were present. They briefed the diplomats on the government’s vision regarding the development of river-based transport systems, river conservation initiatives, and the preservation of traditional watercraft. Additionally, the diplomats were provided with an overview of the history and the ongoing conservation efforts of the historic PS Mahsud.

The Shipping Adviser welcomed foreign diplomats aboard the traditional paddle steamer PS Mahsud. He highlighted the immense potential of river-centric tourism in Bangladesh to the diplomats. He stated that the government has taken extensive initiatives to revitalize waterways and modernize the shipping system. He also remarked that the diplomats’ journey on the historic PS Mahsud is considered a symbol of the continuity and development efforts of our riverine culture.

The participating diplomats were impressed by the potential of Bangladesh’s river-based tourism. They stated that they would play a role in encouraging tourists from their respective countries to explore Bangladesh’s riverine tourism—specifically the experience of traveling on a century-old historic paddle steamer

At the end of the day-long river cruise, the steamer dropped anchor back at the Sadarghat VIP Terminal in the afternoon. It is expected that this initiative will play a crucial role in creating a positive impression among the participating foreign diplomats regarding Bangladesh’s waterways, culture, and developmental progress.