Bangabandhu Safari Park becomes lovely destination of tourists

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur district has emerged as one of the most gorgeous destinations of tourists. The park located in the Bhawal mouza has become a hive of activity. It has become a focal point for entertainment, bio-diversity, tourism, particularly eco-tourism, education, research and employment. The deciduous ‘Shal’ forest stretches over 4 thousand 909 acres of land in the Bara Rather Mouza of Maona Union of Sreepur Upazila and fragmented parts of Pirujali Mouza of Pirujali Union of Gazipur Sadar upazila. In 2010, the park’s work started with a projected costing Tk 639.9 million. On February 2, 2011, work on the park started, formally and on October 31 the same year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the park. Explaining the background, forest conservator, wild life and nature expert, Dr Tapan Kumar Dey, said the deciduous forests of Gazipur were historically a part of the Bhawal estate. After the Land Tenancy Act of 1950 the land was bestowed on the Forests Department. He said as the forest is near Dhaka much of the bio-diversity has been lost to industry, encroachers and land grabbers. The untreated effluent of factories has also adversely affected the environment and bio-diversity. Dr Tapan Kumar Dey went on, ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman loved forests and wildlife. In 1974, he ordered the establishment of ‘Champa Forest Rest House’ in Gazipur’s Bhawal National Park to develop eco-tourism and provided funds from the treasury for it.’ It is learnt that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had advised the construction of the park with ingredients of the Safari World in Thailand and the Bali Safari Park in Indonesia. Consequently the park has emerged as one of the best in South Asia. Here, wildlife can live, roam and breed, freely. Tourists get the privilege of watching them from moving vehicles, according to BSS.