Editor's Pick

Muzharul Islam and his spaces of belonging

14 July 2026, 00:02 AM In Focus

Who protects women in Bangladesh's gig economy?

14 July 2026, 00:05 AM Unheard Voices

Dhaka: How a city was planned to drown

12 July 2026, 17:12 PM Big Picture

11 dead over the World Cup: The real problem is not football

13 July 2026, 11:00 AM Views

How Bangladesh should respond to China’s proposed corridor

12 July 2026, 00:00 AM Geopolitical Insights

Poor facilities turn away tourists from Rangamati

BPC cannot cope as 8-10 thousand visit the picturesque hill town a day

9 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Shantimoy Chakma, Rangamati

Tourists crossing Rangamati hanging bridge. Thousands of people flock to this picturesque hill district every day but many of them return without a gratifying sight-seeing as accommodation and other facilities are scanty. Photo: STAR

A large number of tourists are visiting this picturesque hill town every day to enjoy the nature's beauty in the winter. Most of them hail from capital city Dhaka, Chittagong and other parts of the country. At least 8,000 to 10,000 tourists visited Rangamati a day since the beginning of this month, sources in Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) said. They booked residential hotels, motels and guesthouses boosting business in the small town. BPC is facing difficulties in handling the onrush of tourists and ensuring their accommodation and other facilities. Sources allege that a large number of visitors leave the town shortly after arrival due to poor facilities. During a visit to Parjatan facilities and other private tourist spots, Peda-Ting-Ting, Tuk-Tuk eco-village, Chang-Pang picnic spot and Rajban Bihar this correspondent found a large number of tourists frantically looking for accommodation there. On contact, Alok Bikash Chakma, an official of BPC told The Daily Star that all of their motels having a capacity of 66 people each, including a newly constructed 4-bed 'honeymoon cottage,' are already booked by tourists. “We can't handle it at ease as they are visiting in a large number daily," he said, adding, we are earning a lot of money, on average, about Tk 1 lakh a day. "We have to face problems every year at this time of the season for want of sufficient accommodation facilities", he said, adding that construction of a 100-bed motel with modern facilities has now become essential. Huge revenue will come from it, he added. Jasim and Milton, who came here with their friends from Dhaka, expressed disappointment at poor recreation and accommodation facilities in the town. However, they praised the beauty of Rangamati. “The beauty of Rangamati is amazing. I wish to come here again and again,” said Imu, a female tourist from Chittagong. BPC leaseholders Ilias and Ramzan said they could not meet demands of the tourists as they failed to provide sufficient boats to them. At present, there are only 60 tourist boats, they said. A number of tourists told this correspondent that some owners are cashing in on the situation realising 'unfair' rent from them. A total of 2,50,000 tourists visited Rangamati last year. Of them, only 409 were foreign tourists. The number of domestic and foreign tourists were 1,80,000 and 309 in 2007, BPC sources said. BPC earned Tk 17 lakh as revenue last year and it may cross Tk20 to 30 lakh this year, BPC sources said. Sumet Chakma, owner of 'Tuk-Tuk eco-village', a private tourist spot, said they are doing a brisk business as a good number of tourists are visiting their spots everyday. Pratap Dewan, manager of Peda-Ting-Ting, another private tourist spot, said, "Our 14-bed three cottages--- Radhamon, Dhanpudi and Tanyabi ---are fully booked for the last couple of days". Saiful Islam, owner of Hotel Sufia lamented that many people are going back with frustration from Rangamati for lack of necessary accommodation facilities. "My hotel is fully booked now," he added.