Repair and return Harin Ghata’s glory

The deterioration of the Harin Ghata eco-park in Barguna due to neglect and lack of routine maintenance is disheartening. The park, home to a larger breed of spotted deer compared to those seen in the Sundarbans, was developed into an eco-tourism site in 2015 by the environment ministry. It used to feature walking trails, resting shades, a rest house, a watchtower, shaded huts, and public washrooms. The area once attracted many tourists, with revenues reaching as much as Tk 1.2 lakh in 2024 from park ticket sales. But now, most of the sheds and washrooms lie in ruin, and many of the slabs of the 950-metre trail that leads to four beautiful, secluded beaches—Laldia, Ruhita, Padma and Char Lathimara—are either missing or broken in places. As a result, most tourists cannot access the beaches. Even climbing the five-storey watchtower has become a challenge because of the unsafe stairs. 

The park is a reminder of our culture of developing infrastructure and then allowing it to descend into ruin. While our fervour is impressive when it comes to raising or allocating funds during the development stage of a project, it somehow vanishes when it comes to maintaining the facilities. The Harin Ghata eco-park faced a similar fate. Much of its facilities were damaged by Cyclone Remal in May 2024. One and a half years later, the level of damage remains the same as the authorities have not yet taken any steps to carry out the necessary repairs. This implies that they have little interest in earning revenues or augmenting the tourist appeal of the park. Otherwise, how could they not repair and at least make the washrooms functional in a more than 3000-acre eco-park?

Bangladesh does not have a shortage of scenic places that can be leveraged for generating revenue through tourism. What we lack is the willingness and sincerity of public officials responsible for preserving and maintaining the facilities needed to make these natural sites, like the Harin Ghata eco-park, accessible to the public. If we want to attract tourists to this country, making and broadcasting promotional videos is not enough. Authorities must repair and routinely maintain the facilities that make places of tourist interest comfortable for visitors.