A seasonal sea of pink and white lotus flowers has turned Padma Beel, a 120-acre wetland in Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura upazila, into a popular destination for nature lovers.
Known locally as Dharmanagar Kalibari Padma Beel, the wetland is drawing hundreds of visitors from Brahmanbaria and neighbouring districts during the monsoon, who come to admire the flowers, take photographs and explore the area by boat.
Located between Akhaura and Kasba upazilas, the wetland lies beside India’s Tripura state. Its western side falls within Bangladesh, while the eastern side borders the Madhabpur area of Tripura.
The lotus flowers begin blooming with the arrival of the monsoon, usually in Ashar (June-July), and the wetland reaches its peak beauty in Shraban (July-August). Depending on weather and water conditions, the blooms can continue until Kartik (October-November).
Visitors can hire small country boats to venture into the wetland and see the flowers up close.
Jonaid Hossain, who travelled from Dhaka to visit relatives in Akhaura, said he decided to visit the wetland after hearing about it from family members.
“I was fascinated by the beauty and fragrance of the lilies. Had I not come here, I would have missed seeing nature in such a magnificent form,” he said.
He urged the authorities to take steps to preserve the wetland’s natural beauty.
Local visitor Kabir Ahmed said the destination was increasingly attracting people from different parts of the country.
“Many visitors take small boats into the middle of the wetland and feel as if they have entered another world,” he said.
However, the growing popularity has also highlighted a lack of basic facilities. There are no adequate toilets or changing rooms, causing particular difficulties for families and female visitors.
Kabir called for better facilities while urging the authorities to ensure that tourism development does not harm the wetland’s natural character.
Ecological value
Beyond its appeal as a tourist destination, Padma Beel plays an important role in the local ecosystem, said Monir Hossain, associate professor of Botany at Brahmanbaria Government College.
He said lotus plants can spread naturally through birds and waterways, while their underground rhizomes can survive for long periods even when wetlands dry up.
“When water returns after the dry season, the rhizomes can germinate and produce new plants and flowers,” he said.
The wetland’s aquatic vegetation also provides shelter for fish and food for birds, he added.
“Wetland vegetation is important for maintaining biodiversity. If such natural habitats disappear, fish and birds will lose important sources of shelter and food, eventually disrupting the ecological balance,” Monir said.
Efforts to protect the blooms
Moniand Union Parishad Chairman Mahabubul Alam Dipak said hundreds of visitors arrive at the wetland every morning and afternoon during the flowering season.
A local committee has been formed to maintain security and help protect the flowers, while a village police officer has been assigned to monitor the area.
“We want visitors to enjoy the beauty without plucking the flowers. If they refrain from picking them, the wetland can retain its magnificent appearance throughout the season,” he said.
He also called for a proper public toilet to make the destination more visitor-friendly.
Akhaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Taposi Rabea said the administration was working to protect the wetland while improving facilities for visitors.
Signboards and banners have been installed asking visitors not to pluck the flowers, she said. However, some have been removed and visitors continue to pick them.
“If 1,000 people visit every day and each person picks just one flower, there will be no flowers left for those who come later,” she said.
A village police officer has also been deployed regularly at the site to discourage visitors from picking flowers, she added.
The administration is consulting environmental groups on conservation measures, while a project has been taken to construct wash blocks and changing rooms.
The tender process has already been completed and work is expected to begin soon, the UNO said.
Tourism potential
Local residents and nature lovers believe Padma Beel could become a major ecotourism attraction in Brahmanbaria.
They, however, stress that any tourism development must go hand in hand with conservation.
For now, their message to visitors is simple: enjoy the flowers, take in the scenery and leave the wetland—and its blooms—untouched.
