Sylhet eco-park left uncared for

SYLHET, Dec 09: Sylhet eco-park, which was set up by the forest department in Tilagarh area of the city, has been left abandoned since after the fall of the Awami League government on August 05.

The park's operator, a former influential leader of the party, fled the scene after the changeover, sources said.

During a recent visit to the site, this correspondent has found the main gate and the other on the back open as there was none there. A number of young people were seen moving around.

Normally, a visitor was to pay Tk 23, including Tk 3 in VAT. But, nobody had to pay it since after the changeover, said some workers of the eco-park. Same way the other gate of the park was also found open and unchecked.

The authorities hung notice on the main gate and on each of the animals' sheds stating that the park is shut temporarily on security grounds.

Usually, a good number of people, including students and family members, visit the park every day since it was established on a part of the huge forest.

The park has 19 deer, peacocks, one python, Macao birds, crap arroyo, Australian pheasant silver pheasant and kalem etc for common visitors.

Animal keeper Masud Ahmed said only four persons are still serving the site for feeding the animals, cleaning and other petty jobs although the lessee went away without any alternative arrangements.

Forest-guard Liton Bhowmik, who was found on the site, said, "We are here to guard the large site as the officials often visit the establishment.

However, the canteen and other sheds and places like children's zone were seen deserted where instruments unusable while the anima

sheds etc are almost in a poor state.

On the other hand, private vehicles without any restrictions were seen passing through the road, which passes through the middle of the eco-park to the gas field at the end and its neighbouring areas.

Contacted, Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md Humayun Kabir told this correspondent that the lease operator 'Omi enterprise' owner Subedur Rahman Munna in a written petition expressed his inability to run the park as his contract is set to end on 7 December 2024.

However, he had deposited the lease money. He had the lease for consecutive years and for 2024 it was Tk 430,000, the official added.

Now, the animals would be sent to other parks, the DFO said, since there is no staff member to operate the establishment as well as to rear the important

animals.

Besides, arranging fresh operator from private sector is almost impossible now.

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