The Dhaka Times Desk Sylhet's natural beauty Sylhet residents have no end of pride in the natural forest Ratargul. Many people call it Sanduraban of Sylhet. However, to destroy the natural features of this forest, the forest department is already introducing bricks and timber in the name of tourism industry.
A five storied observation tower, rest house, road is being constructed here to observe the Ratargul forest. And for this, pick-up trucks loaded with bricks are already entering the forest. It is needless to say that the natural form of ratargul will go to what stage in these bricks.
The forest department is saying that they want to make Ratargul a tourist spot with modern facilities. A budget of 6 crore rupees has already been made for this. Work is going on in full swing. A 15-foot road has been cut through the forest to facilitate the work. From here tourists will be taken to the rest house, from there to the watch tower.
Let's find out what environmental analysts are saying? General Secretary of Bangladesh Environmental Movement (Bapa) Sylhet Abdul Karim said, "In the name of forest protection, permanent infrastructure is being built here with bricks. These infrastructures will definitely destroy the natural form of the forest. If man-made houses are built in the forest, it is no longer a forest. Ratargul is a wetland forest. The natural environment has been maintained here for a long time. However, by constructing permanent structures, there will be no loss or benefit to the forest. Let the forest remain as it is.”
Ratargul Jalar Forest (Swamp Forest) located in Fatepur Union of Goainghat Upazila of Sylhet was declared a protected forest in 1973 by the Forest Department. The entire area of 504.50 acres surrounded by rivers and streams was largely unknown to nature lovers. On World Tourism Day 2012, it came into the limelight as a natural tourism spot.
Ratargul has naturally growing hijal-karach-varun trees as well as cane, ikra, reed, murta and jute trees. Besides, 73 species of plants, 25 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles, 175 species of birds and nine species of amphibians exist in the forest.
The forest department says tourism will be made here, people will come here to see the forest. Rest, have a picnic, this will increase the familiarity of the forest. To do all this, the Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) office has already prepared a project proposal named 'Ratargul Wildlife Sanctuary Establishment and Development' and sent it to the concerned ministry.
However, the development of forest should be natural, analysts say to leave it in the hands of nature. Analysts said that the government should increase the security of this forest instead of constructing permanent structures here, so that no one can damage the forest by cutting illegal trees.
Chairman of Wild Life World Foundation. Anisuzzaman said, "Ratargul should be declared a natural museum instead of being destroyed like this, all kinds of tourists should stop visiting here. The diversity of the forest will be fine. But instead of doing that, the forest department is constructing additional artificial structures in it. Plans have been taken to kill Ratargul too.”
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