By Md Aynal Haque

KHULNA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh's south-eastern region Khulna appears to be a incredible tourist hub as it inherits lush countryside, vibrant culture and most captivating landscapes including mangrove forest Sundarban, attracting people from both home and abroad every year.

The place has really some natural spots for tourists' attraction, turning it into an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy leisure time in private avoiding rush period in cities.

It's also known for its delicious cuisine, with a wide selection of traditional dishes and snacks.

One of the most popular and traditional cuisines is beef or mutton with chui jhal, a spice that's infused with the curry!

The 1.60 km Khan Jahan Ali Bridge over Rupsa River is used as the gateway of Khulna city, connecting it to the southern districts, particularly the Mongla Seaport.

This bridge has special lanes for pedestrian and non-mechanised vehicles, so anyone can take a stroll on a windy afternoon with admirable view of the river.

There are stairs on both sides of the bridge that allow visitors to go down and come up to enjoy the close river view and riverside foods.

The forest department has already opened three more eco-tourism centres and another is going to be launched in the Sundarbans to manage the rising number of tourists.
 
Talking to BSS, Mihir Kumar Doe, Conservator of Forests in Khulna, said Sundarbans is seeing a sharp rise in number of tourists, prompting the authorities to set up more four eco-tourism centres in Alibanda, Andamanik, Shekhertek and Kalabagi.
 
There are already seven eco-tourism centres at Karamjal, Herbaria, Kalagachia, Katka, Kochikhali, Dubla char and Heron Point area for tourists.

The authorities have erected watchtowers, hanging bridges, full trails for walking, round room for sitting and pontoons for getting on and off waterways and rest houses in different places.

Tourists normally visit the three centres in Karamjal, Herbaria and Kalagachia with a fixed entry fee and they return within the day.

On an average, more than one lakh local and foreign tourists visit the Sundarbans every year, bringing revenue more than Tk 1 crore.
 
Sundarbans directly and indirectly support the livelihood of more than 10 lakh people as this mangrove forest protects coastal people from cyclones and floods as shield.
 
A feasibility study is also being conducted to build a world-class tourism facility near Sundarbans, keeping its ecosystem intact to make the mangrove forest as one of the attractive tourist destinations.

The region inherited Shat Gombuj Mosque, declared as a world heritage site by Unesco, believing to have been built more than 600 years ago by Khan Jahan Ali in Sundar Hona village of Shat Gombuj Union near Bagerhat-Khulna highway.

During winter, tourists come to Bagerhat in large numbers to enjoy the charming beauty of Shat Gombuj Mosque, one of the largest in Bangladesh.

Although the magnificent architectural site draws visitors throughout the year, the number of tourists increases from December to March. Many people came here to hang out with their families.

Abu Zafar Siddique, who came from Joypurhat, said he brought his family members on the weekend.

"The architectural beauty of the mosque really impressed us. Everyone should come here," he said.

Muhammad Jayed, Custodian of the Department of Archaeology, Bagerhat, said historical and cultural sites here are drawing more visitors than before.

"This shows the people's growing interest in the historical mosque," he said. On an average, 1,000 tourists visit this historic place daily.
 
Around five lakh tourists visited the historic mosque last year from where the mosque earned Tk 57 lakh as revenue.
 
Towhidul Arif, Superintendent of Police, Bagerhat, said they are working to provide round-the-clock security to tourists here.

Talking to BSS, Muhammad Monir Hossain, former president of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), said tourism is an incredibly sensitive industry as even a minor disturbance can cause the industry to collapse.

He said socio-economic stability, political peace, and social harmony is urgent to make this industry vibrant.