BY- S M MUJAHIDUL ALAM DEPUTY MANAGER BANGLADESH PARJATAN CORPORATION FORMER HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL AND TOURISM, NHTTI

1. Tourist Attractions In
BANGLADESH

2. TOURISM IN BANGLADESH
Bangladesh's tourist attractions include historical and monuments, resorts,
beaches, picnic spots, forests and tribal people, wildlife of various species.
Activities for tourists include angling, water skiing, river cruising, hiking,
rowing, yachting, and sea bathing.
In the northern part, comprising the Rajshahi division, there are
archaeological sites, including the temple city Puthia in Rajshahi; the
largest and most ancient archaeological site, Mahasthangarh in Bogra; the
single largest Buddhist monastery, Paharpur in Naogaon; the most
ornamental terracota Hindu temple, Kantaji Temple, and many rajbaris or
palaces of old zamindars.
In the south-eastern part, which is the Chittagong Division, there are
natural and hilly areas like Chittagong Hill Tracts, along with sandy sea
beaches. The most notable beach, in Cox's Bazar, is a contender for the title
of longest unbroken sandy sea beach in the world.

3. TOURISM IN BANGLADESH
In the south-western part, mainly the Khulna Division, there is the
Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest of the world with royal
Bengal tiger and spotted deer. The historically and architecturally
important sixty domed mosque in Bagerhat is a notable site. In the
north-eastern part, Sylhet division, there is a green carpet of tea
plants on small hillocks. Natural reserved forests are great
attractions. Migratory birds in winter, particularly in the haor areas,
are also very attractive in this area.
Ministry of Tourism and The Civil Aviation Ministry designs
national policies for the development and promotion of tourism. The
Ministry also maintains the Beautiful Bangladesh campaign.
Bangladesh Government has formed Tourist Police unit to better
protect local and foreign tourists as well as look after the nature and
wildlife in the tourist.

4. Distribution
Northern part,
comprising the Rajshahi
division
 South-eastern part,
which is the Chittagong
Division
South-western part,
mainly the Khulna
Division
The central part mainly
Dhaka Division

6.  GDP: DIRECT CONTRIBUTION :The direct contribution of Travel & Tourism
to GDP was BDT421.4bn (USD5.3bn), 2.2% of GDP in 2016 and is
forecast to rise by 6.2% in 2017. and to rise by 6.1% pa, from 2017-2027,
to BDT806.6bn (USD10.2bn), 2.1% of total GDP in 2027.
 GDP: TOTAL CONTRIBUTION :The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to
GDP was BDT840.2bn (USD10.6bn), 4.3% of GDP in 2016, and is forecast to
rise by 7.2% in 2017, and to rise by 7.1% pa to BDT1,783.0bn (USD22.6bn),
4.7% of GDP in 2027.
 EMPLOYMENT: DIRECT CONTRIBUTION: In 2016 Travel & Tourism directly
supported 1,057,000 jobs (1.8% of total employment). This is expected to
rise by 1.8% in 2017 and rise by 0.6% pa to 1,138,000 jobs (1.6% of total
employment) in 2027.
Economic impact

7. Chittagong division
Cox's Bazar is a seaside town, a
fishing port and district
headquarters in Bangladesh. It is
known for its wide and long
sandy beach, which is considered
by many as the world's longest
natural sandy sea beach. The
beach in Cox's Bazar is an
unbroken 125 kilometres (78 mi)
sandy sea beach with a gentle
slope. It is located 152 kilometres
(94 mi) south of the Chittagong
Seaport. Cox's Bazar is also
known by the name Panowa,
whose literal translation means
"yellow flower". Its other old
name was "Palongkee".
Cox's Bazar

9. Patenga beach
Patenga is a sea beach located 14
kilometres south of the port city of
Chittagong, Bangladesh. It is near the
mouth of the Karnaphuli River. Patenga
is a popular tourist spot. The beach is
very close to the Bangladesh Naval
Academy of the Bangladesh Navy and
Shah Amanat International Airport. Its
width is narrow and swimming in the
seas is not recommended. Part of the
seashore is built-up with concrete
walls, and large blocks of stones have
been laid to prevent erosion. During
the 1990s, a host of restaurants and
kiosks sprouted out around the beach
area. Lighting of the area has enhanced
the security aspect of visiting at night.
It is guarded by large stones to protect
it from tsunamis.

10. Chittagong War Cemetery

11. WWII cemetery and Circuit House
The War Cemetery on Badshah Mia Road
contains the graves of 755 soldiers, and is
protected and maintained by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission. There are a number of
museums in Chittagong. The most prominent is
the Zia Memorial Museum which is housed in the
old circuit house building. President Ziaur
Rahman was assassinated there on 30 May 1981.
This commemorative museum houses the late
President Ziaur Rahman's mementos and
personal belongings. It was established in 1993
with 12 galleries.

12. Ethnological Museum
The Ethnological Museum of Chittagong located in
Agrabad, established in 1965, is the only ethnological
museum in the country, and presents the lifestyles and
heritage of various ethnic groups of the country. The
museum authority collected rare elements used in
everyday lives of different ethnic groups, of which
some had already become extinct while others were on
the verge of extinction. The museum contains four
galleries and a small hall. Three galleries of the
museum feature diverse elements of twenty nine
ethnic groups in Bangladesh, while the rest of the
gallery displays the lifestyles of some ethnic groups of
India, Pakistan and Australia.

13. Foys lake

14. Foyslake
Foy's Lake is a human-made lake in Chittagong,
Bangladesh. The lake was once just a lake and
spillway constructed by Assam-Bengal Railway
engineer. It was dug in 1924 and was named after
the English engineer Mr. Foy. The lake is next to
Batali Hill, the highest hill in Chittagong Metropolitan
area. An amusement park, managed by the Concord
Group, is located here.

15. Botanical Garden and Eco-Park, Sitakunda
The Sitakunda Botanical
Garden and Eco Park is
locatedalong the Dhaka–
ChittagongHighway in Sit
akundaUpazila, Sitakund
a, Chittagong.
The area of Eco Park is
about 996 acres (403 ha)
which is established at
forestsideof Chandranat
h Hills of Sitakunda.

16. St. Martin's Island
St. Martin's Islandis a small island (area only
8 km2) in the northeastern part of the Bay of
Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the
Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming
the southernmost part of Bangladesh. There
is a small adjoining island that is separated at
high tide, called Chheraisland. It is about
8 km west of the northwest coast of
Myanmar, at the mouth of the Naf River. The
first settlement started just 250 years ago by
some Arabian sailors who named the island
'Zajira'. During British occupation the island
was named St. Martin Island. The local
names of the island are "NaricalGingira", also
spelled "NarikelJinjira/Jinjera", which means
'Coconut Island' in Bengali, and "Daruchini
Dip". It is the only coral island in Bangladesh.

17. Bandarban District
Bandarbanis a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of
the Chittagong Division and Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bandarban is
regardedas one of the most attractive travel destinations in
Bangladesh. Bandarban (meaning the dam of monkeys), or in Marma
or Arakanese language as "Rwa-daw Mro" is also known as Arvumi
or the Bohmong Circle (of the rest of the three hill districts
Rangamati is the Chakma Circle, Raja Devasish Roy and
Khagrachari is the Mong Circle, Raja Sachingprue Marma).
Bandarban town is the home town of the Bohmong Chief (currently
King, or Raja, U Cho Prue Marma) who is the head of the Marma
population. It also is the administrative headquarters of Bandarban
district, which has turned into one of the most exotic tourist
attractions in Bangladesh.

18. Nilgiri, Bandarban

19. Bogakain Lake
Bogakain Lake, also
called Baga Lake or Boga
Lake, is a lake located
in Ruma Upazila in the
hilldistrict Bandarban,Bangla
desh. It is a natural sweet and
deep water lake. Its height
from sea level is nearly 2,400
feet (730 m).
Geologists believe that it was
created by collection of rain
water in the crater of a
dead volcano almost 2000
years ago. The lake is
rectangular in shape.

20. Keokradong
• Keokradong is a peak located
in Bandarban, Bangladesh, with an
elevation of 986 metres (3,235 ft).
Some sources claim it as the highest
point of Bangladesh.
• On the top of Keokradong there is a
small shelter and a signboard put up
by the Bangladeshi military
proclaiming the elevation to be 967
metres (3,172 ft).
• Height measured by handheld GPS
shows it is 986 metres (3,235 ft) with
3m accuracy.
• There is a controversy about the
highest point of Bangladesh, and
some sources indicate Mowdok
Mual as the most elevated peak of
the country.

21. Ruma Upazila
• Nilgiri Resort
• Boga Lake
• Tajindong Hill
• Keokradong
• Rijuk Waterfall
• Chingri Jhiri Waterfall
• Jadipai Waterfall
• Miziri Para Buddhist Temple
• Patang Jhiri Waterfall
• Zingsiam Saitar

22. Sangu Matamuhari Wildlife Sanctuary
Sangu Matamuhari or Sangu Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary—
IUCN category II (habitat/species management area)—situated
in Bandarban District, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh. It is part of the
Sangu reserve forest. It is under the Lama Forest Division of the
Bangladesh Forest Department. Its bio-ecological zone is in Chittagong
Hills and Chittagong Hill Tracts.
It was established in 2010; its total area is 2,332 hectares (5,760 acres). It
is under the Lama Forest Division of Bandarban. It is under the Sangu
Forest Range. It is beside the Sangu River. Its physiography is categorized
as Northern and Eastern Hills; its beat information is 285 Sangu Mouza.
Visitors enter this wildlife sanctuary mostly for nature trails, picnic sites,
etc. It has only one forest range office. It is a protected area under the
wildlife act of 1974.

24. Rangamati
Rangamati is the administrative
headquarters of Rangamati Hill
District in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts. Kaptailake, the hanging
bridge and Pablakhali reserve
forest are some of the notable
locations to visit in Rangamati.
Recently Sajec vally is one of
the important tourist attraction
of Rangamati.

25. Sajek Valley
Sajek Valley is an emerging tourist
spot in Bangladesh situated among the
hills of Kasalong range of mountains
in Sajek union, Baghaichhari
Upazila in Rangamati District. The
valley is 2000 feet above sea
level. Sajek valley is known as the
Queen of Hills & Roof of Rangamati.
The name of Sajek Valley came from
Sajek River that originates from
Karnafuli river. Sajek river works as a
border between Bangladesh and India.
Sajek is a union located in north of
Chittagong Hill Tracts. it From
Khagrachhari town, it is situated
67 km north-east from Khagrachhari
town and 95 km North-West from
Rangamati city. The border of
Bangladesh and Mizoram of India is 8
kilometer east from Sajek.

26. Kaptai Lake
Kaptai Lake is the largest man made
lake in Bangladesh. It is located in
the Kaptai Upazila under Rangamati
District of Chittagong Division. The lake
was created as a result of building
the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River,
as part of the Karnaphuli Hydro-electric
project. The Kaptai Lake's average depth
is 100 feet (30 m) and maximum depth is
490 feet (150 m). Construction of the
reservoir for the hydro-electric plant began
in 1956 by the Government of East
Pakistan. As a result, 54,000 acres
(220 km2) of farmland in the Rangamati
Districtwent under water and created the
lake. The hydro-electric project was
funded by the United States. The project
was finished in 1962

27. Alu tila cave Khagrachariis a district in south-
eastern Bangladesh. It is a part of
the Chittagong Division and the
Chittagong Hill Tracts. Its local name
is "Chengmi". Khagrachari is also
known as PhalangHtaung or the
Mong Circle (of the rest of the three
hill districts Rangamati is the
Chakma Circle and Bandarban is the
Bohmong Circle). There are many
tourist places in Khagrachari like
Alutila Cave, Alutila Tourists spot,
Richhang waterfall, Yonged
BuddhaBihar,DighinalaTouduchhori
Waterfall and others.
Khagrachari District

28. Sylhet Division
Bichnakandi
Bichnakandi is a village in
Rustompur Union in
Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet
District. In recent years there
has been an influx of tourists
to its river.

31. Jaflong
Jaflong is a hill station and
popular tourist destination in
the Division of Sylhet,
Bangladesh. It is located in
GowainghatUpazila of Sylhet
District and situated at the
border between Bangladesh
and the Indian state of
Meghalaya, overshadowed
by subtropical mountains and
rainforests. Jaflong is famous
for its stone collections and is
home of the Khasi tribe.

32. Madhobpur Lake
Madhobpur Lake is a
lak of Srimangal in
Maulvi Bazar District of
Bangladesh. It is one of
the popular tourist spot
in Bangladesh.

33. Ratargul Swamp Forest
Ratargul Swamp Forest is a
freshwater swamp forest located
in Gowainghat, Sylhet. It is the
only swamp forest located in
Bangladesh and one of the few
freshwater swamp forest in the
world. The forest is naturally
conserved under the
Department of Forestry, Govt. of
Bangladesh.
The evergreen forest is situated
by the river Goain and linked
with the channel ChengirKhal.
Most of the trees growing here
are the Millettiapinnata (
"Koroch tree"). The forest is
submerged under 20–30 feet
water in the rainy season. For
the rest of the year, the water
level is about 10 feet deep.
Ratargul Swamp Forest

34. Lawachara National Park
Lawachara National Park is a
major national park and nature
reserve in Bangladesh. The park is
located at Kamalganj Upazila, Maulvi
Bazar District in the northeastern region
of the country. It is located within the
2,740 ha (27.4 km2) West Bhanugach
Reserved Forest.
Lawachara National Park covers
approximately 1,250 ha (12.5 km2) of
semi-evergreen forests Biome and
mixed deciduous forests Biome. The land
was declared a national park by the
Bangladesh government on 7 July 1996
under the Wildlife Act of 1974.

35. Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary
Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest and
wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh. This is a dry and evergreen forest
. It is located in the Chunarughat of Habiganj district. Rema-
Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1982 and later
expanded in 1996. Currently the wildlife sanctuary expands on an
area of 1795.54 hectares as of 2009. This is one of the natural forests
in Bangladesh that are still in good condition. However,
indiscriminate theft of trees & deforestation pose threat on the
sanctuary. Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is located in
Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj. It is in very near ot Srimangal of
Moulvibazar district and adjacent to the Tripura border of India. The
wildlife sanctuary is about 130 kilometers north-east of the capital
Dhaka. It comprises four bits of Kalenga Forest Range of Habiganj
District namely: Kalenga, Rema, Chanbari and Rashidpur.