A fruitful visit: Unesco DG

Matsuura, who arrived here on Thursday, visited cultural and heritage sites, including Paharpur, Mahasthangarh and Lalbagh Fort.

He also visited the National Memorial at Savar, Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge and a vocational training institute at Mirpur.

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The Japanese-born Matsuura, who played a key role in mobilising funds for Jamuna Bridge and Meghna-Gomti Bridge construction, met President Iajuddin Ahmed, Education Minister Dr. Osman Farruk, State Minister for Youth and Sports Mohammad Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Huq Milon and Education Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Alam.

"It was a fruitful and productive visit and I'm happy with the progress in Bangladesh," Matsuura told BSS at Sonargaon hotel before his departure.

Secretary of Bangladesh National Commission of Unesco Syed Jaglul Pasha and Unesco Country Representative Wolfgang Vollmann were also present.

Matsuura said the thing that made him amazed most was the communal harmony in the country and the rich tradition of three major religious groups -- the Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus.

He also assured that the Unesco would extend further help to Bangladesh for the preservation of its physical and intangible cultural heritage.

In this context, he lauded the role of the government and the people for their efforts to protect the cultural supremacy by their own.