Sheikh Md. Belayet Hossain, Reporter || The government has taken an initiative to formulate a unified policy aimed at integrating Bangladesh’s cultural heritage with tourism and expanding the sector.As part of the move, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs have agreed in principle to work together on developing cultural tourism.Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat disclosed the plan at a meeting held at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs at the Secretariat on Monday.He said a joint committee comprising representatives from the two ministries would be formed to work on the proposed policy. The two ministries are also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the initiative soon.Referring to his recent visit to Malaysia, the tourism minister said he held a bilateral meeting with the country’s tourism and culture minister. He said Bangladesh plans to draw on Malaysia’s approach to preserving historical sites while promoting them as tourism and cultural attractions.The government also aims to increase tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP. Millat said the sector currently contributes around 2-3 percent to GDP, while Prime Minister Tariq Rahman has set a target of raising it to 7-8 percent through joint initiatives by the two ministries.Under the initial plan, traditional zamindar houses across the country will be among the first sites brought under the programme. Buddhist heritage sites stretching from Cox’s Bazar to Mainamati will also be included. Other tourism and cultural sites will be incorporated in phases.Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury said several smaller countries have achieved significant economic growth by making effective use of tourism, citing Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and the Maldives as examples.He said tourism and culture are closely linked and that the joint initiative aims to showcase Bangladesh’s cultural heritage to the world while creating greater economic opportunities.