SYLHET, Feb 07: The much talked about Sylhet eco-park and wildlife preservation centre couldn't be opened for public due to delay in appointment of manpower for the government organisation for the last one and a half years.
Sources said construction of all the establishments has already been completed. Work was completed under a three-year project in June 2016, but the authority failed to appoint the required staff and officials for it for now.
Several letters were sent to the higher authority for arranging the staff members, numbering a total of 27 but to no effect as yet, sources said.
However, contacted divisional forest officer, Sylhet, RSM Munirul Islam said things would be solved soon and it would be opened in a month or two. Initially the wildlife centre would be opened with limited staff members.
Besides, we would soon go for tendering for appointing a private firm for visitors' ticketing facility and others, he added.
Some of the wildlife, procured from abroad for Sylhet centre had been kept at the Bangabondhu Safari Park at Gazipur. These would be brought to Sylhet before the opening of the centre, he added. However, due to absence of physicians, tiger, bear and zebra wouldn't be kept here at the beginning, the official said.
The centre had been set up on eight acres of land at the city suburban Tilagar forest area. However, it would soon be expanded to 30 acres, the official added.
The decision to establish the Sylhet Wildlife Centre in the eco-park area at the city suburban Tilagar forests was taken up at an inter-ministerial meeting on October 3, 2012. Tk 100 million was the budget.
During a visit to the site this correspondent found 11 sheds have been prepared for animals while a hospital and rehabilitation centre has also been set up.
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