Photo : Messenger
The hilly region of Rangamati lags in its tourism sector even after having enormous potential due predominantly to a lack of well-planned establishments and goodwill.
The natural beauty of the hills and the Kaptai Lake alone attract only a few visitors nowadays. Apart from the Hanging Bridge and Polwel Park, no other tourist spots have been developed in the area of natural beauty.
No steps have been taken to develop the tourism sector, nor have any plans been implemented. Local people claim that the Parbattya Zila Council could develop tourism if they wished to.
The former chairman of the Rangamati Zila Council, Brisketu Chakma, and the present chairman, Angshui Prasu, have discussed a mega project initiated in 2017, although it has not seen any progress in the past seven years.
The hanging bridge, built in 1986 by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation between two hills in Tabalchari, spans 335 feet in length and is well-known as the 'symbol of Rangamati.'
Thousands of tourists visit Rangamati to enjoy the beauty of Kaptai Lake and the bridge. However, the bridge was not built with proper planning, resulting in it being submerged underwater during the rainy season, which diminishes its appeal to tourists.
Additionally, Polwel Park was established in the city in 2019 under the observation of the Rangamati Zila Police, after 33 years. Apart from these two attractions, resorts and cottages in the area are primarily based on restaurants and are under private ownership.
Every year, the Rangamati Zila Council organizes events such as joy rallies, group discussions, and tourist fairs on Parjatan Day. However, it appears that the development of the tourist sector is limited to these events. Well-organized planning and coordination between the district council and the administration are essential for the development of tourism in the area.
Local people suggest that arranging cable cars, establishing child amusement parks, introducing various rides, and enhancing facilities and security could attract tourists throughout the year.
Conversations with tourists from Dhaka and Chittagong at the Rangamati Tourist Centre and the Hanging Bridge often reveal a sense of disappointment. Private resorts near Asambasti-Kaptai road charge between five to twelve thousand taka per night. Although Sajek is a notable development in Rangamati, the need to traverse the Khagrachari hill to reach there reduces tourists' inclination to visit Rangamati.
Md Ajgar, a tourist from Langdu Upazila who visited the Hanging Bridge, expressed, 'Rangamati is the most beautiful hill among the three hill tracts. I think it has the potential to grow. If we can develop our tourism sector, more tourists will come, resulting in significant revenue for the government.'
Khonesshor Tripura, a teacher at Rangamati Science and Technology University, suggests that short-term plans are needed in the area, and current activities should be intensified. He compares Dal Lake of Kashmir to Rangamati, emphasizing the similarity in attractions such as small water boats in Kashmir and kayaking in Rangamati.
Alok Bikash Chakma, unit manager of Rangamati Parjatan Holiday Complex, mentions that preliminary discussions have taken place between the Parbattaya Zila Council and the Tourist Department to enhance tourist facilities. He hopes that this will lead to new possibilities. Furthermore, a proposal has been submitted to the office to build a modern Hanging Bridge similar to the existing one. The potential implementation of this proposal could significantly advance the local tourist sector.
Angsui Pru Chowdhuri, Chairman of Rangamati Parbattaya Zila Council, said, “We had a mega project which is still under consideration by the ministry. We are actively working to push it through. Additionally, we plan to hold further meetings to enhance the current system and regulations of the tourist sector to further enhance the beauty of Rangamati.”
Messenger/Disha
