More than two hundred resorts in Moulvibazar, big questions over approval and safety
Numerous resorts have grown up in various areas including Sreemangal in Moulvibazar, which is known as a tourist center. New leisure centers are being built beside hills, hillocks and green nature to attract tourists. But there is no complete picture of how many of these establishments have the necessary approval, whether they have environmental clearance, and what measures have been kept for the safety of tourists.
As a result, along with the spread of resorts, questions are growing over legality, environmental conservation and safety. According to information given by local tourism-related people, the number of resorts in Moulvibazar district could be more than two hundred. Of these, the largest number is in Sreemangal Upazila.
However, a section of local tourism businessmen is unwilling to consider all of these establishments as quality resorts. Their claim is that in many cases, even an arrangement of renting out a few rooms is being given the identity of a resort.
According to the count of S K Das Suman, general secretary of the Sreemangal Tourism Service Association, there are about 103 resorts in the upazila. But in the true sense, the number of full-fledged resorts is no more than 10 to 12. In his view, in operating a resort, the type of structure, the facilities and the necessary approval matters must be taken into consideration.
The president of the same organization and the owner of Grand Selim Resort, Selim Ahmed, said the number of resorts in Moulvibazar district is about 200. Of these, there are more than a hundred in Sreemangal. But just because the word resort is attached to a name does not mean an establishment can be called a full-fledged resort. In his view too, there is a tendency to advertise an arrangement of renting out a few rooms as a resort.
Although various accounts of the number of resorts are found at the local level, consolidated information on how many establishments are running with all kinds of approval is not clear. Officials of the Department of Environment have spoken of giving clearance to some establishments. But complete information was not found on the approval status of the resorts that remain outside the establishments that received clearance.
Md. Moidul Islam, assistant director of the Moulvibazar Department of Environment, said clearance has been given from their office to about 60 resorts. In the case of resorts that have 20 or more rooms, the matter of giving clearance is considered. He has no specific information as to under which authority's approval the other establishments are being operated.
Md. Abul Kalam Azad, director of the Sylhet Divisional Department of Environment, said environmental clearance is given in the case of hotels and resorts with an investment of at least 50 lakh taka. In the case of establishments with less investment than that, their office does not give clearance. He also said the establishments that received clearance are regularly monitored.
He further said that alongside the environmental clearance, it is necessary to verify whether land use, building construction, permission of the local authority and other conditions including fire safety have been fulfilled. Just because an establishment has an environmental clearance, there is no scope to assume that all kinds of approval have been confirmed.
Sreemangal Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ziaur Rahman said there are questions over where and who are building resorts and what kinds of permission they are operating under. A list has been prepared on this matter. He also believes that a clear policy or guideline is needed for the establishment and operation of resorts.
To give the experience of staying close to nature, many resorts in Sreemangal and the surrounding areas have been built in areas adjoining hilly slopes, hillocks and forests. But allegations have arisen of cutting hills and hillocks and damaging forest land in building tourism infrastructure. Environmental activists fear that if there is no proper oversight of these construction works, there may be long-term effects on the natural environment.
A S M Saleh Sohel, a member of the national council of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bangladesh Environment Movement), said a tendency to build resorts by cutting hills and forests can be seen. There is no effective monitoring to control such construction work. There needs to be a clear policy to determine where and under what conditions resorts can be built.
Alongside resort approval and environmental impact, the safety of tourists has also become an important question. Recently, following the news of seven deaths in a fire at a resort in Cox's Bazar, fresh concern has arisen over fire safety and preparedness to deal with emergency situations at tourist centers across the country. Local tourism-related people also think that before building resorts in hilly areas, it is essential to verify the nature of the land, the possible impact on the environment and the approval of the concerned departments.
