After Weeks of Drought, Tourists Return to Khagrachhari's Attractions

After several weeks of a tourist drought, liveliness has begun to return to Khagrachhari's tourist attractions, with visitor numbers rising especially at the District Council Horticulture Park.

Visitors showed extra enthusiasm around the green hills, lake, hanging bridge and zipline, among other attractions. Alongside locals, many came with family and friends from different parts of the country.

On Friday afternoon (6 November), the Horticulture Park was full of visitors—some touring with family, some taking photos with friends, and some enjoying the various rides.

Humayun Ahmed came from Cumilla by motorcycle with friends. He said they set out in the morning and arrived around 1pm, visiting the Richang waterfall and Alutila Park before coming to the District Council Park. Returning to Khagrachhari after seven or eight years, he found many changes and new rides in the parks.

Tanzil Chowdhury came with his family from Narayanganj. He said they had a wonderful time at the Horticulture Park, loved the green hills, lake and hanging bridge, and described his first-ever zipline ride as a great experience. He also noted that repair work, including on roads, is under way at the Alutila tourist centre.

Montosh Tripura, who is in charge of the District Council Horticulture Park, said the crowd on Friday was larger than in the past few weeks, with visitors arriving mainly after noon. Visitor numbers had fallen since a blockade began in Sajek, but Friday's gathering was much like normal times.

Abhi Kumar Dey, who operates the park's zipline ride, said at least a hundred tourists rode the zipline on Friday, whereas in recent days there had been no more than three or four visitors a day.

Md Sagar, manager of the Aranya Bilash residential hotel, said Sajek is one of the main attractions for tourists and its closure directly hit Khagrachhari's tourism-dependent businesses, with hotels and restaurants all facing a slump. When tourists do not come to Sajek, overnight stays in Khagrachhari fall, as most visitors tour during the day and leave on night transport. But after many days, Friday's presence in town made them hopeful.

Khagrachhari Tourist Police Sub-Inspector Md Abdus Samad said tourist police keep round-the-clock surveillance and patrols at every important tourist centre in the district to ensure visitor safety, with Ansar and regular police members also on security duty.

Those concerned say this visitor presence is a positive signal for Khagrachhari's tourism sector, and if arrivals continue, activity will also rise among local traders, transport workers and staff linked to the attractions.