With impeccable natural beauty, thought-provoking ancient relics and indomitable hospitality of the people, Bangladesh has blessed potential to be an amazing tourist destination. Situated between India and Myanmar with the entire south edged by the Bay of Bengal, this South Asian country is crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers making it an interesting delta. Sprawling green hills and valleys along with mangrove forests and long stretches of sandy beaches also add value to the spectacular natural beauty of this land. No wonder, this land has attracted priests, traders and wanderers from different parts of the world since ancient times.

Bangladesh is a land of diversity. Its vast population of 160 million includes Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists who live in absolute communal harmony. The widely varied religious stock has an impact on the cultural diversity making it colorful, interesting and lively.

There are over 700 spots of tourist interest in the country. These include nature-driven ones like the beach, green valleys and forests. There are also archeological and historical sites, iconic religious places, cultural events and man-made wonders. Thus Bangladesh is a unique tourist destination where one can find the scopes for all kinds of tourist interest.

Being the world’s single-largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans is a pride for the country. Located in the southwestern edge of Bangladesh, it is now a hot spot for ecotourism. Spread over an area of 6,000 square kilometers of deltaic swamps, it is a sanctuary for hundreds of rare species. Most importantly, it is the home of the royal Bengal tiger. One can also find crocodiles, monkeys, dolphins, spotted deer and several other interesting creatures. Crisscrossed by innumerable rivers and creeks, it is a wonderful repository of biodiversity. The Sundarbans is a World Heritage Site, declared by UNESCO and has recently been shortlisted to be polled as a wonder of the world. Visiting the Sundarbans must be a memorable experience. While having the opportunities of seeing the rare wild animals and birds, one can also see how thousands of brave men and women engage themselves in fishing in the rivers and creeks and collecting honey from the depths of the forest.

Down in the southeastern tip, the longest unbroken beach in Cox’s Bazar attracts tens of thousands of visitors all year round. The calm blue water of the Bay of Bengal caresses the 120-km-long sandy beach that stretches along a range of picturesque green hills. Besides bathing and basking, one can also enjoy a variety of water sports like surfing, water skiing and other games. The site is fast becoming a popular spot for beach football and volleyball besides several cultural events. With hundreds of comfort-ensuring hotels, tribal bazaars and imposing pagodas around, Cox’s Bazar is often dubbed the tourist capital of Bangladesh.

Another up-and-coming sea front tourist destination in the country is Kuakata. It is in the southernmost tip of the country from where one can have the rare opportunity of getting a glance of both the sunrise as well as the sunset. 

The Hill districts in the southeastern region of the country command an exotic view of natural beauty. Accessible by road from the port city of Chittagong, it is a tranquil heaven for nature lovers. Green hills and sprawling valleys are often dotted with waterfalls and small lakes. The unique lifestyle of the tribal people adds value to the romance of this paradise. With no sound and air pollution, these hilly districts can be the finest destinations for those wanting to get away from chasing modern urbanistic life and embrace a domain of tranquility.

Up in the northeastern part of Bangladesh in the region of Sylhet, the sprawling tea gardens offer a panoramic view of a green carpet rolled out for miles and miles. For centuries, these tea gardens have been producing tea. The plucking of tea leaves by thousands of women in the waist-level thick tea bushes itself is a spectacular view.

In the midst of the tea garden valleys, natural waterfalls make it more scenic. The Madhabkunda waterfall is the most prominent, with tens of thousands of tourists visiting it every year.

Between Sylhet and Mymensingh in the north central part, huge bodies of water dominate the landscape, offering another opportunity for nature adventurers. Known locally as haor, these bodies of water turn into safe havens for millions of cold-escaping migratory birds coming from as far as Siberia. Tanguar haor situated in the district of Sunamganj is known to be the biggest individual water body in Asia.

While natural beauty dominates the entire expanse of Bangladesh, thousands of ancient relics across the country hold truth of its interesting past. Some of these relics are several centuries old and relay the facts about the endeavors of religious preachers, business traders and ambitious rulers from all parts of the world.

Situated in the northwestern region, Paharpur is well known for being a wonderful Buddhist archeological site. It was the largest monastery south of the Himalayas where Lord Buddha and his disciples were believed to have spent a long time preaching. The excavated historical remains include grand quadrangular court with 177 rooms and a pyramidal cruciform temple. It is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO.

Not far from Paharpur, there is another archeological landmark in Mahastangarh. It is known to have been the biggest place of worship for Hindu devotees. With imposing semicircle constructions and hand-carved designs, the temples beside a river offer a spectacular view.

Mammoth Buddhist relics are also found in Mainamati near Comilla beside the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Remains of a large Buddhist monastery with imposing central shrine speak of early Buddhist civilization.

The Kantajee temple in Dinajpur in North West of Bangladesh is another must-see place. The age-old temple is iconic for its delicate murals.

Bangladesh is often called a land of mosques. It is obvious that with more than 80 percent of the 140 million people being Muslims, there will be innumerable mosques. However, many of the mosques are ancient and reflect the taste of the early Muslim preachers and rulers.

The Shatgombuz mosque in Bagerhat near Khulna is unique with its 60 domes. The Atia mosque in Tangail near Dhaka is still vibrant with its archaic designs. The Star mosque in the capital Dhaka shows the craze for the beautification of holy places. The huge and magnificent national mosque ― Baitul Mukarram ― in the heart of Dhaka is an imposing architectural beauty.

As Bangladesh was at the crossroad of several civilizations and imperial rules, there are also several relics that echo the splendor of the past. The Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka commands a spectacular view. Built in 1678 during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurongazeb, it is an outstanding complex with courts, residences, mosques, minarets, tunnels, gardens and a sprawling courtyard.

Sonargaon, the ancient capital of this land, is not very far from the present capital. There one can behold old palaces. A folklore museum situated in the area showcases the finest handicraft products made in this country.

To achieve consistent success from the tourism industry, Bangladesh has taken some commendable initiatives including the creation of tourist accommodation and amusement facilities. The government of Bangladesh has recognized tourism as an industry and put it on the list of thrust sectors. A new National Tourism Policy was framed in 2010 for the development of sustainable tourism industry in Bangladesh. The policy underlines diversification of tourism products, development of ecotourism, overseas marketing of tourism attractions and human resource development. The Industrial Policy of 2005 has included tourism as a thrust sector. The government also enacted the “Tourism Protected Area and Exclusive Tourist Zone” in 2010. This will help attract foreign investment in these ETZs.

The government is committed to extending unflinching cooperation to the private sector for the promotion of the tourism industry in Bangladesh. We are also considering implementation of some tourism projects under the government’s new concept public-private partnership system. Foreign investors are also most welcome to invest in this sector. In order to encourage private and foreign investment the government is offering various incentives.

The government of Bangladesh provides training to the educated youths of the country so that these young people can enter into the tourism industry as trained human resources. The government-run National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute has so far provided training to as many as 30,000 students in different disciplines including food and beverage production, food and beverage services, housekeeping and laundry, front office and secretarial, travel and tour operations, and a two-year diploma in hotel management and one-year diploma in tourism management. These trained people are serving better in the tourism industry at home and abroad. Apart from these, many private tourism training institutes also provide training and send the trained people abroad, and thus bring in foreign remittance to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a land of many wonders. With a rich history, diversified culture and impeccable natural beauty, it deserves to be visited again and again. Along with the hospitality of the people, there are all the necessary facilities available to make the travel across Bangladesh a memorable one. The national tourism organization ― Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation ― and plenty of private tour operators wait to serve you.

As Bangladesh is a young destination on the world tourism map and its attractions are still less trodden, it possesses great potential to attract tourists from around the world. It is striving hard to develop a planned and controlled tourism industry by maintaining the quality and standards of tourism products and services. Bangladesh is always ready to welcome tourists in this land of virgin lush green and ancient civilization. 

By Maksudul Hasan Khan

The writer is an additional secretary to the government of Bangladesh and currently chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corp. (Government Tourism Organization). ― Ed.