Dr. Syed Nesar Ahmad Rumy :
Bangladesh is a country of rivers. Hundreds of rivers flow through this land. The great Bengal Gangetic delta, Brahmaputara basin and Meghna basin mainly constitute this land. Though there are other land areas which are not regarded as a part of this Gangetic delta, Brahmaputra basin and Meghna basin. The Chattogram region, some parts of Sylhet region, the Barind tracts and Modhupur and Bhawal area have special land characteristic which are not similar to the Gangeticdelta, Brahmaputra basin and Meghna basin.
Time immemorial the people of this area are very much accustomed to river routes for their communication and transportation and transportation of goods. This is why all the cities and town were built on the both side of the rivers. In ancient time there was no recognized land route inside presently Bangladesh area. Only weknow that the Emperor Sher Shah constructed the great grant trunk road in the then India and a small part of that road was constructed in this land area and that went up to Sonargaon, the capital of the then Bengal. The Kings and Rulers of this area mainly depend upon river routes for their administrative, commercial and military purposes. Many historical places, structures, big buildings were demolished by great river erosions in the passages of time of this area. We get many references in the history of those structures but in reality we do not find such structures in those places because of river erosions occurred in centuries after centuries. The famous Noakhali, Sandwip towns were wiped out by river erosions and if we want to find out the wreckages of those structures of cities, towns, we do not find those because of river erosions.
In present Bangladesh area there was no significant work on river erosions and water resources done by British Indian government. During Pakistan time new concept of flood protection and use of river water got importance. For flood control a high powered team came to the then East Pakistan during fifties. The team led by Mr. Krug. The team made a feasibility study of the flood control of the then East Pakistan and later submitted it to the government. But over the years the government did not pay due attention to the recommendations of the mission. In the early sixties the Ganges Kabotak project was undertaken by the government in the south western part of the then East Pakistan. For this project the food production of this area increased considerably. Government has taken many other projects later and those projects contributed much for food production and flood control. Among those projects Teesta project, DND project, Costal area embankment projects, river bank protection projects, Haor embankment projects are referable. All these projects are somehow related to water. So water resource plays significant role for the development of the country.
But one important issue which is very much related to water and that is river and riverbank tourism are not addressed properly. As Bangladesh is a riverine country and it has a great potentiality of promoting domestic tourism. We know 3to5 main rivers flow through our country and hundreds of distributaries and some tributaries are also flowing in Bangladesh. The north eastern part and southern part of Bangladesh are heavily dependent on river transport for communication and transportation of goods and passengers. In the rainy seasons almost all the rivers keep full of water and navigable. The all season’s passengers route by river are mainly as follows;
a. Dhaka to Borihsal via Chandpur
b. Dhaka to Bhola
c. Dhaka to Shahriatpur, Madaripur
d. Dhaka to Patuakhali and other Southern districts and some coastal areas.
e. Dhaka to Khulna viaJalokathi, Pirosepur and Bagerhat.
In the northern area of Bangladesh, the rivers keep dry about nine months of a year. The river Padma does not keep moderately navigable throughout the year but the river Jamuna keeps navigable throughout the year. The river Padma is not navigable all-time from Paturia point to Godagari of Rajshahi due to shortages of water for Farakka Barrage of India. But the Jamuna river route is all-time active and many Indian cargo vessels used to go to Assam fromKolkata following this route.
Now we come to the issue that we want to discuss and make recommendations. That is river and riverbank tourism. I t is not completely new issue. Since time immemorial people of our country like rivers and riverbanks and they want to go to river cruising. This is the common mind-set of the people of our country. For promoting river and riverbank tourism we can select six to seven routes initially. After being successful we can increase the routes. The proposed routes are as follows:
a. Dhaka- Chandpur-Dhaka;
b. Dhaka – Borishal;
c. Dhaka -Patuakhali;
d. Bhola -Mehendiganj- Borishal;
e. Dhaka- Khulna via Jhalokathi-Pirosepur -Bagerhat;
f. Meghnaghat -Bhairab;
g. Dhaka-Paksey( Hardinge Bridge) via Paturia;
h. Dhaka – Paturia- Sirajganj.
Government organizations and private tour operators can arrange river cruising for promoting domestic tourism. Already this sort of tourism exists in South and South-western part of Bangladesh. In the touristic season (Oct-Mar) some tour operators take the tourists to Sundaran area from Dhaka and they stay there 1/2 night halts. After that they come back to Dhaka. But in the off season that is the rainy season the domestic river tourism can be boost up. The proposed three main routes those are Dhaka toPaksey of Pabna, Dhaka to Sirajganj and Dhaka to Bhairab can be taken as pilot project for promoting of such off Season River based tourism. It is noted that in the off season (rainy season) the river Padma keeps full of water up to the brim and it keeps moderately navigable.
Suppose, a passenger vessels furnished with full modern amenities can be ready for this cruising. The private tour operators offer a journey of Dhaka to Haridinge Bridge of Paksey, Dhaka to Sirajganj and Meghnaghat to Bhairab trip. The tour operators will take the tourists/passengers toPaksey, Sirajganj and Bhairab from Dhaka and they will come to Dhaka following the same route or by train from the ending point. Such arrangement should be there so that another group of tourist can avail the journey from the ending point and after coming to Dhaka they can avail the train to go back to their places where they started their journey. The vessels must be furnished with modern amenities and there must have all arrangements of recreation so that the tourists will not feel bored. In cruising time the tourists or passengers can enjoy their time to see the beauty of rural Bengal village, fishermen’s life style and their fish catching, riverbank bazar etc. Tour operators can offer one night two days package for this tour. The routes may be increased if the program becomes successful.
The other two areas are also important for off season (rainy season) tourism.
These are as follows:
a. Haor areas located in greater Sylhet and greater Mymenshing region.
b. Bheduria-Laharhat area (crossingpoint of the river Kirtonkhola, Tentulia,Kalabadar area.
These two areas are very much potential for domestic tourism. The private tour operators can arrange package tour for these two areas and in course of time it might be a very popular touristic destinations. In this regard we can refer the tourist spot of Suez Canal of Egypt. In the city of Ismalia area there are some lakes connected with Suez Canal and a large number of tourists come to this area for recreation and lake cruising. Keeping this example in front of us we can exploit the potentiality of tourism of Haors of Sylhet-Mymenshing regions and Laharhat -Bheduria area of greater Borishal region. The policy makers of our country should think over this idea.
From Nagorbari to Kurigram an alternative national high way may be constructed as heavy pressure is going on over the highway connecting Jamunabridge to Panchagarh. So it is the demand of the time to construct an alternative high way in north Bengal. The proposed highway has to be constructed within 2to 5 km of the west bank of the river Jamuna. Initial cost of this project may be very high but in the long term perspective and security reason of our country this project will be viable and feasible. Low cost touristic resorts, recreation centers, picnic spots will be constructed through public and private partnership so that middle class people and students can use the advantages of these types of centers. Such types of projects may be taken by the side of the river Padma and Meghnaif theJamuna project becomes successful. In this way the tourism sector will go one step forward within a very short time.
We know maximum town/cities are situated on the different riverbanks in Bangladesh. So government or the appropriate authority should select 30-40 towns/cities for riverbank tourism. After selection, about 1-2 km longwith a hundred fifty meters wide area on the riverbank may be developed so that river erosion cannot take place in those areas. Different rides, makeshift restaurants, open stage may be constructed. People will like it and they love to gothere for recreations and enjoy their time. Cultural groups of that particular town can arrange open stage programs there. People from town and adjacent rural areas who have not the ability to go distant touristic place can come to this place with little money for recreation. In this way mobility of people and domestic tourism will be promoted. For this primarily we can take 3-4 towns/cities and if it becomes successful, rest of the selected towns/cities can be taken in this project. After completion of this project majority of town/cities will get a new look and the image of Bangladesh will be increased.
Keeping the above observations in mind the planners and policy makers of the country should think over these issues. Maybe this sort of project seems to be very much costly and ambitious but it will be needed in near future. We know rapid industrialization and massive development work are now ongoing in Bangladesh. The economy of Bangladesh is becoming stronger day by day. The aspiration of people is going up gradually and recreation with modern amenities will be required in the days to come. So the new idea of promoting domestic tourism must be addressed by the policy makers and planners in the upcoming Bangladesh.
