Back from Sylhet: Gowainghat in Sylhet is full of hills, waterfalls and greenery. In this upazila bordering India, there are all the beautiful tourist spots. The main tourist attractions are Jaflong Zero Point in Sylhet, Bichnakandi, a Rocky River, and Ratargul, the only freshwater forest. Tourists and people who love to travel come to see the beauty of these spots. But the facilities for tourists have not been increased here. Tourists are suffering due to lack of toilets, changing facilities and restrooms in these places. However, the local administration has assured that these tourist centers will be tourist friendly soon. They say it has not been possible to increase facilities so far due to land and fund issues.
The tourist spot was closed for two long years during the Corona period. Tourist spots have been open since last month after the Corona situation came under control. Now these areas are crowded with people. Tourists from far and wide including the capital Dhaka are flocking. Especially on Fridays and Saturdays, Sylhet is crowded with tourists.
Shafiqul Islam Jasim, a tourist advocate from Manikganj, told Barta24 that he came to Jaflong to swim in the water of Pian. I bought a ticket for ten taka and entered but could not find any toilet. There is no restroom. Tired of walking, I had to rest on the rocks.
He said the same situation prevailed in Ratargul and Bichanakandi tourist areas. Advocate Jasim said that the transportation system at Ratargul and Bichanakandi spots is very bad. In these places there are no ghats for boating, the lack of ghats makes the clay soil very slippery in light rains and tourists are in grave danger. Action should be taken by the concerned authorities.
Recently, ticketing system has been introduced for tourists in Jaflong and Ratargul. Although the government accepts Tk. 10 per person in Jaflong and Tk. 50 in Ratargul, the people who come to visit the tourist spot are not getting the benefit. There has been a new outburst of anger.
Saiful Islam, a tourist from Savar, told Barta24 that once he had come ten years ago and saw that there was no toilet. Not yet. So what does it mean to arrange tickets now? How appropriate is it for tourists to urinate under or next to a tree?
He also expressed anger over the lack of toilets in Ratargul and Bichanakandi. Saiful said, I also went to Ratargul and Bichanakandi. There was no bathroom arrangement. And the condition of the roads and ghats is very bad. In light rain, Ratargul's condition deteriorates and tourists have to get on the boat by treading mud.
Although there is a public toilet built by the Union Parishad in Jaflong, tourists cannot use it due to unhealthy environment. Another tourist spot in Goainghat is Ratargul. Although there are public toilets, they are also of low quality. There are no restrooms or changing facilities for women and children tourists. Although some temporary facilities have been set up in the spot area by the private sector, tourists cannot use them for security.
Ismail Hossain Sumon, secretary of the Bichanakandi Tourism Club, told Barta24.com that many tourists visit Jaflong, Ratargul and Bichanakandi on Friday and Saturday. But when it comes to travel, especially female tourists fall into disarray. No infrastructural facilities for changing toilets and clothes have been built here. The tourists are in danger. That is very sad.
Manjur Ahmed of Noagaon village in Gowainghat upazila has been driving auto- rickshaw on the Jaflong-Ratargul and Bichanakandi routes for 13 years. He told Barta24.com that more tourists visit Jaflong-Ratargul and Bichanakandi spots on Friday and Saturday. Most of them travel to these areas in CNG auto-rickshaws. Most of the tourists on the way back from the spot stop the CNG on the road and urinate.
Manjur said tourists would have benefited a lot if there was a bathroom in the spot. It is bad to stand on the roadside and urinate in this way.
Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tahmilur Rahman told Barta24.com that our three spots are actually of three types. We need some permission to set up structures in these places. Even then we are doing. In Jaflong, we have recently introduced tickets for ten taka. There were some complications regarding the fund. From our fund we will develop washroom and dress change facilities within a month. Jaflong will soon become successful in terms of facilities.
Regarding Bichanakandi spot, Tahmilur Rahman told Barta24.com that Bichanakandi spot is just a part of the border and the government's land. And the rest of the land is a private place. Due to the complexity of the land here, we are often unable to build structures here. We have recently had to shift a big project from here to Bholaganj only due to land related complications. There is a floating restaurant in Bichanakandi and I am working with it.
Regarding Ratargul spot, UNO Tahmilur Rahman told Barta24.com that Ratalgul's case is different. The forest department is the owner of total land in Ratalgul. We can't do anything inside the forest area, we have limitations. But they say they are developing some facilities. In some ghats some development was done privately but in other ghats it was not done.
He said, however, that there is a management executive committee including a forest. The forest department is currently charging Tk. 50 from each tourist and Tk. 100 per boat. VAT will be added to this. Percentage of this fund is used for the purpose of forest facilities. I have recently wrote a letter to the forest department to use the money for developing tourist facilities. They are also in the process. But it has to be done through them.