Eco Tourism
Bangladesh is a country of vast, largely unknown and unspoiled natural beauty and reserves, which are simply unique and fascinating. These natural phenomena are composed of hills and vales, forests, rivers, lakes, sea and Beaches, and the evergreen landscape embracing the country is situated in the northeastern side of the South Asia sub-continent. The topography is mainly flat alluvial plain, criss-crossed by the world’s three mighty river systems, the Padma (Ganges),the Jamuna and the Meghna and their innumerable tributaries.
The east and the northeast of the country joins India, and the southeastern part, adjoining Myanmar, is mainly hilly with dense forest. This area comprises Chittagong and the three Hilly Districts (as they are known) of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachori, with an average elevation of 610 m. These folded ranges run parallel to each other in the north-south direction and the hill slopes are generally enveloped by dense virgin forest. In the south and southwest, alongside the coast of the Bay of Bengal, lies the Sundarbans, better known as a swampy tropical mangrove forest, the home of the Royal Bengal Tiger. These areas are all ideal for the expansion of ecotourism in the country. The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical with a hot and humid summer and cool and dry winter. Annual rainfall ranges from 160 to 400 cm. The best period to visit Bangladesh is November to March, when the temperature ranges between 13.3 and 26.5 Celsius.
Potential for eco-tourism in Bangladesh
Bangladesh enjoys a unique position, being easily accessible from many popular destinations in South Asia. This is a real advantage, and particularly true of the Chittagong Hill Tracts that provides a truly pristine and exciting destination for travelers. According to the Lonely Planet Bangladesh profile, three destinations worth visiting are the Govinda Shiva and Jagannath Temples at Puthia, Rajshahi, St. Martin’s Island, and Rangamati and Kaptai Lake in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The country is home to the Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephants, monkeys, langurs, gibbons (the only ape in the subcontinent), otters and mongooses. Reptiles include the sea tortoise, mud turtle, river tortoise, pythons, crocodiles, gharials and a variety of snakes. There are more than 600 species of birds, including the Paradise Flycatcher and the most spectacular kingfishers and fishing eagles (IUCN, 2000).
The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical and there are six main seasons: Grishmo or summer, Barsha or Monsoon, Sharot or fall, Hemanto or fall, Sheit or winter and Bashonto or spring.
The Bengal region has a multi-faceted folk heritage, enriched by its ancient animist, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim roots. Weaving, pottery, and terracotta sculpture are some the earliest forms of artistic expression. The World Heritage Committee has included in the World Heritage List and the Sundarbans (which is in the list of World Heritage Sites).