Tourism, communication change lifestyle in CHT

Fardaus Mobarok:

[dropcap font=”arial” fontsize=”60″]H[/dropcap]ills and falls are the major attractions of the three hill districts in Chittagong. Thousands of people gather in the area throughout the year to enjoy natural beauty. Moreover, the rush of tourists goes up during the months of December and January.

At the same time, the hills get refreshed by the winter dewdrops. To get some relief from the mechanical life in different cities of concretes, people in various groups and along with their families rush to Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban to enjoy their mind-blowing beauty. It has boosted the business of small and cottage industries of that area. Many of the locals have engaged themselves

Many of the locals have engaged themselves with various trade and commercial activities relating to tourism, which has changed the lifestyle of the ordinary people there. However, all the economic potentials of the area cannot be utilised properly due to lack of adequate security, communication facilities and other infrastructural advantages.

However, tourists are escorted by the security forces to and from the Sajek Valley, several times every day. It is known as the paradise of Bangladesh because of its green surroundings, pleasant weather and peaceful condition. It is also called the roof of Rangamati.

As the road communication has become easier inside the remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) regions, the lifestyle of hilly people has been changed significantly. More tourists from home and abroad now travel to see the natural beauty of the hilly regions due to

As the road communication has become easier inside the remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) regions, the lifestyle of hilly people has been changed significantly. More tourists from home and abroad now travel to see the natural beauty of the hilly regions due to availability of many hotels, restaurants and resorts.

The people of the hill districts, especially in remote areas, are now able to communicate throughout their regions, and they are now running hotels and restaurants around that locality. With the availability of income sources, many tribal youths who had been involved in various criminal activities before, have also started returning to normal life. In addition to that, many of the poor tribal people who have not enough education and were mostly depended on Jhum cultivation, have already left their traditional work. The tribal people of the hill districts expressed their satisfaction with

In addition to that, many of the poor tribal people who have not enough education and were mostly depended on Jhum cultivation, have already left their traditional work. The tribal people of the hill districts expressed their satisfaction with development of their lifestyle.

During a recent visit to Rangamati and Khagrachhari, the correspondent has found that the local people now have clothes and sufficient foods and they are now leading very happy life as they earn enough money by serving the tourists at their respective remote areas with the help of the security forces and local administration. The locals said they were used to lead a very miserable life due to lack of road communication in absence of development activities in the hill districts.  “We used to cultivate

The locals said they were used to lead a very miserable life due to lack of road communication in absence of development activities in the hill districts.  “We used to cultivate Jhum earlier. It was very tough to us to survive. But now we have overcome the situation. At present several thousands of Tribal people have come under the communication network with the construction of

At present several thousands of Tribal people have come under the communication network with the construction of road from Baghaichhari to Sajek by Bangladesh Army,” said Anitya Tripura, General Secretary of Sajek Resort and Hotel Owner Association.

Besides, he said the Tribal people are also earning money from the tourists after the construction of the Sajek Resorts by the Bangladesh Army. Sajek Valley is situated in the North angle of Rangamati, near the Mizoram border boundary area. The valley is 1,800 ft high from the sea level.  The distance from Khagrachhari town to Sajek Valley is 75 kilometres.

Anitya Tripura said, before the construction of Sajek Resort as a tourists spot, the local people used to depend on only Jhum cultivation and young generation were involved in extortion and toll collection.

“Earlier we only used to depend on Jhum cultivation for foods and other needs. But after six months we had to face serious food crisis. Most of the tribal people had to pass their lives without foods, clothes, medicine and other needs,”

he said.  Replying to a query, he said as the tribal always had to face serious financial hardship, they had no option to send their children to the schools. “But now many educational institutions have been founded here with the modern facilitates. Our kids are now going to schools. It is a very good news for us,” he said.

He said about 32 hotels and resorts are now in Sajek Valley. Talking to this reporter Sajek Union Parishad Member Shanti Tripura said the tribal people did not wear clothes earlier. “Now they wear clothes. Most of the tribal people used to pass their days by taking local made alcohol. They didn’t have any dream or hope to change the lifestyle, as they were very poor,” he said. The tribal youths, who were involved in armed

he said. The tribal youths, who were involved in armed terrorists groups, are now driving various vehicles especially motorbikes, microbus and local jeep named ‘Chander gari’ to ferry the tourists through the remote hilly roads. According to Parjatan Corporation and the hilly people, there are lots of places in the hill tracts with huge potentials of tourism.

Among those Rechhang waterfall, Alutila mysterious cave, Dhighinala Bihar and many, Rangamati hanging bridge, Kaptai Lake, Rajban Bihar, Rongrang hill, Dighinala Upovog Bihar, Sharna Mandir Bihar, Ali Kadam, Nilgiri, Boga Lake, Bolding Khiyang waterfall, Keokradong and Tajindong hills, Nilachal. Local people said that they want more tourist spots to expand in CHT which will enhance their socio-economic development.