The catkin field in Sylhet’s Golapganj upazila, which went viral recently for its scenic beauty, was burned down by unidentified locals to end the rise in alleged unsocial activities there.
According to local sources, the field is located next to the Sylhet-Zakiganj road at Chowgharia. The privately-owned land was filled up with sand by its owner. Later, with the Catkin flowers springing up naturally, the field started attracting visitors during the ongoing autumn season.
Meanwhile, locals began objecting to people visiting the secluded spot as it allegedly gave rise to unsocial behaviours among its visitors, who are mainly young men and women.
Photo shows the catkin field in Sylhet’s Golapganj upazila being torched of Friday, October 1, 2021 | Dhaka Tribune
Some locals, wishing anonymity, said locals were constantly at loggerheads with the visitors over small issues.
To finally put an end to these disputes, they might have torched the field, they said.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Golapganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Golam Kabir said: “We could’ve turned the place into a tourist spot if it was government property.”
“The spot was not as popular until youths started visiting and sharing their experience on virtual platforms like Facebook. Till Friday morning people from all over the district thronged to see the Catkin field,” said local journalist Mahfuz Ahmed Chowdhury.