SYLHET, Dec 21: Speakers at a meeting on Wednesday said the authorities has taken up steps for increasing facilities for the tourists at the nationally important site Tanguar Haor and others in the district of Sunamganj.
The event on 'preparing tourism development programme for Tanguar haor' was held at the DC's conference room with the Deputy Commissioner Md. Sabirul Islam chaired while Bangladesh Parjoton Corporation (BPC) Director (Planning) Md Shahidul Alam addressed as chief guest. IUCN's Project Manager Md. Abdul Motaleb presented the main paper.
The government is sincere to portray the renowned Tanguar haor and other important spots in an attractive way to the nature-loving visitors from home and abroad, said the chief guest.
Haors, rivers and other waterbodies in addition to hillocks and other natural places are there in the region, which has a great potential in the tourism sector. Especially the Tanguar haor is known at home and abroad for its scenic attraction and diversified natural beauty. Even with the limited arrangement and facilities, everyday thousands of visitors from areas visit it and the other spots of tourist interest, the speakers noted.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, General Kamruzzaman, Sadar Upozila Nirbahi Officer Ishrat Jahan, IUCN's Assistant project Officer Selina Sultana, Climate Change Assiatance Fund's Assistant Director Sakila Yasmin, District Corruption resistance committee president Nurur Rob Chowdhury, District Mohila Parishad's ex president Shila Roy, Tanguar Haor Co-management committee's president Bazlur Rahman and General Secretary Ali Usman also spoke among others.
A detailed programme for raising the Tanguar haor's tourism facilities has been prepared, the organisers said. A coordinated package could be made for visitors comprising the liberation war linked Tekerghat site, Niladri Park, Barek tila and Jadukata river site etc on the Sunamganj frontiers on the foot of Meghalayan hills, the organisers said.
The then Sunamganj district administration took over the supervision of the country's second Ramsar site Tanguar haor in 2003 while the IUCN was given it in 2006 and continued till August 2016. Again they were extended till December 2017. But allegations are there that IUCN had failed in doing their job during the long period.
The Prime minister's office's Director General Kabir Bin Anwar at a meeting at the Sunamganj Circuit House on 1 July this year said the IUCN during their 9 years had failed in developing the site and its fish wealth as well the bio-diversity.
However, the locals' awareness level on the bio-diversity had gone up meantime, he added.
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