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No publicity of Tourism Year in Madhabkunda

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Update: 2016-07-20 11:11:27
No publicity of Tourism Year in Madhabkunda

MOULVIBAZAR: The government declared 2016 as ‘Tourism Year’ to attract the tourists both from home and abroad but there was nothing observed in support of this declaration in Madhubkunda Waterfall, one of the most popular tourist spots in the country, and in eco-park at Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar district.

The people concerned said that this declaration is only in papers to attract the tourists. “No leaflet was found to the authorities regarding the Madhubkunda Waterfall let alone the ‘Tourism Year’.”

Thousands of tourists from home and abroad were seen visiting the largest waterfall of the country as well as the biodiversity of the eco-park everyday. At the same time, they visit the herbal tea orchards. They were seen passing pleasant time by taking photographs during bathing in the waterfall.

Moreover, temples, mermaid sculptures and egrets of Madhabkunda attract many visitors. Those who love adventure can use the trail passing through the almost inaccessible Parikunda. But, many do know the lively youth of Parikundua during the rainy season as it is deep inside the hilly area.

A team of 45 have come from Elenga of Tangail district to visit the tourist spots in Sylhet. Of them, one is Rubel Hossain, a teacher of zoology, said he never visited this area and only heard about it. “This time I have come here to enjoy leaving the familial bindings behind.”

“Besides the waterfall, I am learning about various kinds of birds, animals and trees,” Rubel said. “But there are no documents here so that tourists can learn about the biodiversity of this area.”

When asked about ‘Tourism Year’, Rubel’s companion Asadul Shahin, a government college official, said he had read about it in newspapers but did not find any campaign in this regard here.

Abdul Wahab, an official of a private organization in Dhaka, said that the initiative of the government is praiseworthy but if it remains confined in declaration then it will be not successful.

“There is no document at Madhabkunda Waterfall and at other places about the tourist spots of Sylhet. Let alone the foreign tourists, even the tourists from other districts of Bangladesh do not know anything about the spots. The authorities concerned should think over it.”

There is a rest house and restaurant of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation (BTC) at Madhabkunda eco-park. There is no publicity about the Tourism Year even at those places!

Meanwhile, the authorities expected at least 10 lakh tourists would visit the country in 2016.

Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) CEO Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir told banglanews that they planned to brand Bangladesh as “Beautiful Bangladesh” in the Tourism Year and are working to meet the target.

How to go to Madhabkunda:

You will have to go around nine kilometers from Barlekha sadar upazila of Moulvibazar district via Jurimukhi and Kanthaltoli Bazar to reach Madhabkunda eco-park.

Green tea gardens on small hills on both sides of the road will welcome the tourists. There is a BGB outpost on the left of the road. Then move ahead and you will find the eco-park.

The park is located at 72-km from Sylhet, 70-km from Moulvibazar and 32-km from Kulaura railway junction. Tourists can reach Madhabkunda from any area of the country easily.

Entry fee in the eco-park for every person is Tk 10. There are changing rooms inside the park for the tourists.

You will get food and handicrafts at the gate.

BDST: 2103 HRS, JUL 20, 2016
Shahjahan/SR/RR

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