The government has increased entry fees for six botanical gardens and eco parks, including the National Botanical Garden in Mirpur, to Tk100 from Tk20 per person – a fivefold hike, drawing flak from people online.
This decision came into effect on Monday, with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announcing the entry fee rise in a circular on April 21.
The notification mentioned the hike in fees for Baldha Garden in the capital as well.
The other gardens and eco parks are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Cox's Bazar, Lawachara National Park in Moulvibazar and Satchari National Park in Habiganj, Banshkhali Eco Park in Chittagong, and Modhutila Eco Park under Mymensingh Forest Division.
Visitors expressed their anger on social media about the increase in fees, demanding this decision be withdrawn.
The entry fee has already been increased for all of them except Modhutila Eco Park.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Mymensingh Forest Division ANM Abdul Wadud told the media that the lease of Modhutila Eco Park was given before the notification, so now it is not possible to increase the entry fee.
He added that the entry fee cannot be increased before March next year.
From now on, visitors above 12 years of age will have to pay Tk100 per person to enter these gardens and eco parks, whereas the earlier fee was Tk20.
Meanwhile, those below 12 years of age will now have to pay Tk50.
Educational institutions visiting with permission taken in advance will be charged Tk1,000 for a group of 100 and Tk1,500 for a group larger than 100, including researchers, reads the circular.
Foreign tourists have to pay Tk1,000 or an equivalent amount in US dollars.
Regular visitors exercising in the National Botanical Garden must obtain an annual card for Tk500, which allows for an hour-long visit, it adds.
Timings are also fixed for morning walks. These cardholders can stay in the park from 6:30am to 7:30am from November to March and from 6am to 7am from April to October with only a one-hour stay at the gardens for exercise.
Previously, there was no fee for entering the park for exercise.
To get a card, an application has to be submitted to the lessee of the concerned park.
The terms and conditions are the same for entry to the Botanical Garden in Mirpur and Baldha Garden in Wari.
Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury at a program on Thursday also termed the decision “a bit irrational,” adding that it needs to be reviewed.
However, he said it was his personal opinion.
When asked about the issue, AKM Shawkat Alam Majumder, deputy secretary (Forest-1 Division) of the ministry, said the authorities had implemented the decision following a proposal from the Ministry of Finance.
“We have nothing to do here,” he added.
Meanwhile, the entry fee has been increased to Tk115 at Lawachara National Park in Moulvibazar and Satchari National Parks in Habiganj adding VAT.
Md Jahangir Alam, divisional forest officer of Wild Animal Management and Nature Conservation Department of Moulvibazar, said the new entry fees have been in effect for Lawachara National Park and Satchari National Parks since May.
This measure had to be taken because the government had said the order would be implemented immediately, said the DFO.
