Belai Beel offers new tourism prospect in Gazipur

KALIGANJ, GAZIPUR, Sept 30: Belai Beel, a nearly 50-square-kilometre wetland connected to four upazilas in Gazipur, is emerging as a potential tourist destination while supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of people.

The wetland stretches across parts of Gazipur Sadar, Kaliganj, Kapasia and Sreepur upazilas. It plays an important role in controlling flooding and water-logging and is also a major source of native fish. During the monsoon, the beel becomes filled with water lilies, greenery and boats, attracting nature lovers from different parts of the country.

The route to the beel through Bhadartti Canal from the Shitalakkhya River is particularly scenic. The greenery and water along both sides of the canal often remind visitors of Ratargul in Sylhet.

The Kaliganj Upazila administration’s tourism information also highlights the beel’s monsoon beauty and says tourists visit the area by boat.

The wetland also supports many local livelihoods. Fishermen catch fish in its waters while many people collect water lilies for a living during the monsoon.

Rana Sarker, a law student at Southeast University and a resident of Rajnagar village beside the beel, said Belai Beel had huge potential for the tourism industry.

“Government and private initiatives can turn this beel into a modern tourist destination and showcase it to the world,” he said.

Regular visitor Nurul Islam said the beel’s natural beauty could attract tourists from across the country.
He, however, called for controlling the use of plastic and polythene, ensuring tourist safety and widening the road leading to the beel.

Advocate Md Atikur Rahman Bhuiyan, President of Kaliganj Kalyan Sangstha, said Belai Beel could be developed into an attractive tourist destination with government or private sponsorship.

“People from the locality and different parts of the country could come here and spend time. Belai Beel could become one of the country’s major tourist destinations,” he said.

Although some facilities needed for tourism are lacking, joint government and private initiatives could help attract domestic and foreign tourists, he said.

A documentary on the beel has already been produced and promoted on social media to highlight its tourism potential, the UNO said.

He also said the administration was taking steps to prevent attempts to fill the beel in violation of a High Court order.

Officials and locals said developing the beel as a tourist destination would require better communication, tourist safety, cleanliness and organised boat services while ensuring protection of its natural environment.

With its vast waterbody, biodiversity and connection to local livelihoods, Belai Beel has the potential to contribute to tourism and create new economic opportunities for local communities.