Moulvibazar, known for its tea gardens, hills, forests, haors, waterfalls and lakes, has immense tourism potential. Yet despite a steady flow of visitors, the sector continues to struggle with inadequate infrastructure, poor management and a lack of coordinated development.
Sreemangal’s tea gardens and Lawachara National Park, Madhabpur Lake and Hamham Waterfall in Kamalganj, Madhabkunda Waterfall in Baralekha and Hakaluki Haor attract tourists throughout the year.
However, many destinations lack basic facilities such as public toilets, safe drinking water, seating areas, parking and information centres. Traffic congestion and parking shortages also become acute during holidays. Poor road conditions and inadequate directional signboards are major problems at remote attractions, often forcing visitors to rely on locals for directions.
Waste management is another concern. Plastic bottles, polythene and food packaging are frequently left behind during peak seasons. Environmentalists fear that inadequate waste collection could damage forests, wetlands and water bodies, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas such as Lawachara and Hakaluki Haor.
They have called for stricter controls on tourist movement, noise pollution and plastic waste, alongside stronger environmental management. Tourism stakeholders also say the district lacks an integrated development plan. Instead of developing destinations separately, they have called for major attractions to be brought under a coordinated tourism circuit.
They believe lesser-known destinations need greater promotion. Hakaluki Haor has not achieved the popularity of Tanguar Haor despite offering distinct scenery. Baikka Beel, a sanctuary for fish and birds in Rajnagar, also has significant tourism potential.
Tourism operators estimate that visitors experience only a fraction of Moulvibazar’s attractions. They say community-based tourism could help promote lesser-known destinations while linking tourism with local tea, food, handicrafts, small businesses and cultural activities.
Tour guides associated with the Moulvibazar Tour Community said they had raised several issues with the district administration but had seen little progress. They also complained about poor cleanliness and overgrown vegetation along roads in Sreemangal, saying such conditions, along with fears of insects and snakes, could discourage visitors.
Moulvibazar Tourism Services Association President Md Selim Ahmed said the tourism sector had progressed but required coordinated efforts from the government and private sector. “Hotel and resort owners can address problems within their own properties, but broader structural issues require government intervention,” he said.
He cited damaged roads, electricity and law-and-order concerns, the condition of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway and train ticket shortages as key challenges. Selim also proposed introducing tourism-related courses at Moulvibazar Polytechnic School and College to develop skilled workers for the sector.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Tanvir Hossain said new tourism development plans had been sent to the ministry. “Efforts are continuing to improve the quality and facilities of tourist destinations across the district and its upazilas,” he said.
Moulvibazar was declared a “tourism district” in 2008, but no official gazette has been issued in the 18 years since. A project proposal submitted by the district administration in 2009 to develop Moulvibazar as a tourism district remains pending. An action plan prepared in 2017 to identify the sector’s challenges and potential has also yet to be implemented.