Tk 5cr eco-park at Char Kukri-Mukri on the brink of destruction

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, Oct 25: The eco-park, set up at a cost of about Tk 5 crore on Char Kukri-Mukri, a highly promising tourist destination in Char Fasson Upazila and one of the country's main coastal islands, has now fallen into ruin through extreme neglect and lack of care. 

In 2018, to tackle the risks of climate change, enhance beauty, conserve biodiversity and attract domestic and foreign tourists, the Ministry of Environment and Forests took the initiative to set up an eco-park on the sea-coastal Char Kukri-Mukri. But due to the lack of proper maintenance, cleanliness and supervision by the Forest Department and the local administration, this once lively park has now become almost abandoned and turned into a haunted area. The rides and equipment built at a cost of lakhs of Taka to attract tourists and entertain children are now being ruined, soaked in sun and rain.

A visit to the park on the spot revealed that the swings, slides and other recreational items made for children's enjoyment have been lying under the open sky in neglect for about four years. Because they have not been repaired regularly, they have become severely rusted and broken down. Many valuable pieces of equipment have become completely unfit for use and are lying face down on the ground, now nothing but debris.

Due to the absence of regular cleaning activities, the long walkway inside the park and its surroundings have been completely covered with creepers, dense jungle and weeds. As a result, even during the daytime, a dark, gloomy and silent haunted environment prevails inside the park. Because of such a risky and eerie atmosphere, local children and tourists coming from far and wide no longer feel comfortable entering the park. As a result, this highly promising recreation centre is losing tourists day by day.

Md Rasel, a local visitor who came to the park, expressed his regret, saying, "We used to come here with our family for a little enjoyment. But given the park's present condition, it is frightening even to go inside. There is jungle all around and broken rides lying about. It feels like some abandoned haunted house. If it is not cleaned up quickly, the park will be finished forever."

Expressing the same anger, another tourist, Taslima Begum, said, "The rides that were built for children to play on are now heaps of iron. They have broken and fallen to the ground, which is, on the contrary, seriously risky for children. The government spent so much money to build these, but everything is being ruined due to lack of maintenance."

According to field sources, rapid steps by the Forest Department and the local administration are essential to sustain the natural and tourism potential of this mini-Sundarban built across the bosom of nature. If the park is cleaned up quickly and the rides repaired or new recreational equipment installed, it could again become bustling with the footsteps of tourists.

When contacted in this regard, the Range Officer of the local Coastal Forest Department said, "We are aware of the current situation of Char Kukri-Mukri Eco-park. We have sent a proposal to the higher authorities to clean the jungle and repair the rides. Once the allocation is received, the park will be repaired very quickly and made suitable again for visitors."

Tourism-related businessmen and affected local residents are calling for rapid and effective intervention by the concerned higher authorities to save this wonderful creation of nature and this asset worth crores of Taka of the government from disappearing.