An Eco-Tourism Center in Sundarbans. Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Aug 9, 2025 (BSS) - The Department of Forest Division has taken massive initiatives to renovate various tourist spots to attract both local and foreign visitors in the upcoming tourism season.

Tourists are mainly eager to visit these spots to enjoy wildlife and the beauty of nature in an eco-friendly atmosphere, along with extensive infrastructural facilities at the East Forest Division in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest.

The Ali Banda Eco-Tourism Center in the Sharankhola Range of the Eastern Sundarbans has emerged as a promising tourist destination alongside other tourist spots.

For travelers who wish to explore the Sundarbans at a lower cost and within a short time, Ali Banda Eco-Tourism Center, along with the Supati Wildlife Sanctuary, can be an attractive destination, according to the Eastern Forest Division.

During a day tour, visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of the Sundarbans, the vast Baleshwar River at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal, and watch fishermen catching hilsa and other sea fish.

From the Sharankhola Range headquarters jetty, it takes only about 50 minutes by engine-powered trawler to reach Ali Banda, and from there, about an hour and a half to reach Supati Wildlife Sanctuary.

A 50-foot-high watchtower has been built at Ali Banda to allow tourists to enjoy panoramic views of the Sundarbans.

Additionally, a one-kilometer-long foot trail has been constructed for safe forest walks. Facilities such as public toilets, a round-shaped hut (Gol Ghar), souvenir shop, ticket counter, concrete jetty, paved roads, two ponds for crocodiles, and a fenced enclosure with a shed for deer have also been established. Due to its proximity to human settlements, Ali Banda has quickly become a focal point of interest for tourists.

Forest officials said tourists can easily take a short day tour to Ali Banda in the Sundarbans from Dhaka and other parts of the country. 

According to the Forest Department, in the near future, tourist access to deep Sundarbans spots like Kotka, Kochikhali, Hiron Point, and Dublar Char will be restricted.

As part of this plan, the forest authorities have launched a project to establish eco-tourism centers near human settlements.

Under the four-year project, eco-tourism centers have been developed at Ali Banda in Sharankhola Range, Dhan Sagar in Chandpai Range, and Harbaria and Andharmanik. Harbaria and Andharmanik are already fully operational.

Nazmul Alam, a Sundarbans tour operator from Sharankhola, said that once the Ali Banda Eco-Tourism Center is fully launched, it will attract a large influx of tourists.

He noted that visitors from Dhaka and other regions of the country will be able to travel to this area of the Sundarbans at minimal cost and time, cheaper than visiting other tourist spots in the Sundarbans.

Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans Forest Division in Bagerhat, said that construction at the Ali Banda Eco-Tourism Center is now in its final stages.

A staff barrack for forest guards has already been built, and guards have been posted. Preparations are underway to release deer into the fenced enclosure and crocodiles into the ponds.

The DFO stated that the eco-tourism center will soon be fully open to visitors.

The Sundarbans, a world heritage site, is known for its wide range of flora and fauna, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, the rare Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins, and various species of birds and animals.

Tourists also visit other forest spots such as Karamjal, Harbaria, and Hiron Point to enjoy nature and wildlife.

To attract more tourists, various eye-catching structures and infrastructure will be built in the Ali Banda Eco-Tourism Center, he added.

Contacted, Professor Abdul Kadir, executive director of Sundarban Academy, said it is good news for nature lovers as well as tourists that the Forest Division is developing a promising tourism spot at Ali Banda Eco-Tourism Center.

He also emphasized the need to develop other civic facilities, including luxury transportation, resorts or cottages, seafood facilities, and to ensure tourist security focused around the Tourism Center.