There is a difference between watching a wild animal caged in a zoo and watching it in its own habitat. Perhaps that is why people visit forests and engage in safari tours.
The same is happening in Bangladesh too. Number of tourists visiting the Sundarban is on the increasing trend. The Sundarban, the biggest mangrove forest in the world, is attracting more and more visitors but almost over ninety five per cent of them are Bangladeshis. With its rich biodiversity, it is a unique natural hotspot and truly, there is potential to make it attractive in the global tourist marketplace.
The Sundarban mangrove forest is a vast cluster of low lying islands edging the south western tip of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal state of India. Major segment of the forest, over sixty per cent, lies in Bangladesh. However, tourist inflow into the Sundarban in the West Bengal part is better.
Currently, the popular entry point into the Sundarban is Khulna. Munshiganj under Shyamnagar upazilla in Satkhira district and Kuakata in Patuakhali can also be wonderful entry points provided necessary infrastructure development is made to enable the nature wandering visitors to get comfort and satisfaction. In fact, with its much closer proximity to the forest, Munshiganj can be a better gateway to the Sundarban.
While road communication to Kuakata has improved much, accessibility to Munshiganj is nightmarish with deplorable road condition and non-availability of transport facility. Accommodation for the visitors also needs to be ensured.
Private sector level development has been going on in these places with regard to accommodation, the basic component for tourism, but such development is reckless. If the development spree cannot be controlled now in the light of any master plan, this will distort the potential of making these places as hotspots for tourism.
To take the case of Munshiganj in particular, unabated shrimp cultivation along the forest is obliterating the natural existence of the forest. It is already under threat of climate change impacts. The forest has also losing its ecosystem with continued logging and loss of well-known species of animals and birds. Couple of resorts has come up through private initiatives but those were mainly intended for the non-government organisations (NGOs) working in the region after the severe cyclones -Aila and Sidr which left unimaginable marks of destruction to life and living many years ago.
This place can be made highly attractive if only few things are considered. First, road communication must be improved; secondly, a master plan has to be framed to facilitate development of the basic tourism needs like accommodation and hygienic food and water; third, there is a need for a bird sanctuary like that existing in the Indian part of the forest. These measures can also help create livelihood opportunities for the local inhabitants many of whom have already migrated out due to unemployment or check many local residents from continuing logging.
While resources exist to be cultivated as golden opportunities to develop tourism, it is unfortunate if we fail to harness them properly. With lesser volume of similar resources, others are reaping the benefits. Why can't we?
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