Gaibandha’s Balasighat holds huge tourism potential

GAIBANDHA, May 12: Balasighat in Phulchhari upazila of the district has potential for becoming a tourism spot for the beauty of a marine terminal and an embankment on the Teesta riverbank.
Gaibandha is an important district with a vast plain cropland and a simple public life.
Gaibandha is the second highest administrative region of Rangpur division. Farmers grow different crops, including maize, pepper, almonds and sesame.
The district has the potential to become a rich tourism spot due to the beauty of a marine terminal built at Balasighat and a dam built at Teesta Mukhghat.
The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers in Bangladesh, flows through Gaibandha district.
Besides, several other rivers, including Karatoa, Naleya, Jamuna, Kalshi, Katakhali, Alai and Teesta crisscross the entire region of this district.
Phulchhari, which is located at the mouth of the Brahmaputra and about 10km away from Gaibandha town, is full of natural beauty.
In this upazila, which is sandy and incredibly diverse, the nature has created the beauty of the riverbed.
During the British rule, the Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway Company constructed a metre-gauge railway from Santahar to Phulchhari in 1899-1900 to use Phulchharighat for carrying their various goods.
At that time, one could go by train to different parts of the country, including Dhaka, by crossing the river from Bahadurabad Ghat. But in 1990, due to the navigability of the Brahmaputra, the railway ghat was shifted to Balasighat.
Balasighat is a seaport and sightseeing place located in Kanchipara Union of Phulchhari Upazila, 7-8km east off Gaibandha district town.
Located on the banks of the Brahmaputra, this ghat was also used as a railway load-unload station.
Goods were transported to different parts of the country and abroad through this ghat.
Trade was conducted from here to different places in the country and abroad through the river port. But due to the increasing navigability crisis in Balasighat area, some rivers are drying up every year.
Locals say if Balasighat river port is connected with capital Dhaka, the people of eight districts in the northern region can easily go to Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Gazipur and Dhaka.
If a ferry service is launched on Balasi sea route, people can move easily and carry goods to different districts, Besides, traders can also transport goods at a low cost, they add.
Jahangir Kabir Tanu, convener of the Gaibandha Social Struggle Parishad, has said Balasighat has a communication network with entire Bangladesh by road, rail and sea. Hence, Balasi river port will become a commercial centre.
Through this, local people will get jobs, industries will develop and housing will get improved. The river port will play an important role in improving life in this region, he adds.
"If infrastructure is built for the development of tourism in Balasi river port area, it will contribute to the revenue of the country," he continues.
Besides, the Brahmaputra is known as a pilgrimage site for Hindu devotees. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from home and abroad gather here at Ashtami shrine.

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