Banskhali Eco Park

Banskhali Eco-Park (বাঁশখালী ইকো পার্ক), where nature reigns supreme, is located in the
western edge of the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary and 60 kilometres south of Chittagong Metropolitan City.

Nature manifests here in almost all its forms -- hills, lake, wildlife sanctuary, reserve forest and valleys. Besides, the Department of Forest has
created a wide variety of recreational facilities where the visitors can take boat rides in lake, hike along the trails or climb to the top of the
observation towers or hills.

Banskhali Upazila headquarters is only four kilometres away from the Eco-Park. The whole region enjoys pleasant climate throughout the year. Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary is nearby and elephants come down from the sanctuary during the rainy season.

The Banskhali Eco-Park is a cluster of hills, which are being planted with trees of timber value as well as exotic ornamental and medicinal
plants. Created in a picturesque hilly area of about 1,200 hectors, the
Banskhali Eco-Park started under a project in 2003 in the once evergreen forest which was dominated by sun grass and other planted species. The Bay of Bengal is only two kilometres away from Banskhali Eco-Park and from the observation towers and hill tops one can take a glimpse of the blue expanse of the sea. The vast lake, which is about five kilometres long, enhances beauty of the whole area. It was created by connecting two separate water bodies
'Daner Chhara' and 'Bamer Chhara' digging a canal through the hills.

Local Government Engineering Department has constructed two small irrigation barrages with financial supports from IFAD and World Bank in 1993 and 1999 for facilitating irrigation to nearby Jaldi, Shilkup and Chambal areas, and thus the lake is created. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of almost the total Eco-Park area, the eye soothing greenery and newly created forests riding mechanised boats, speed boats and pedal boats provided by the park management. Lazily plying on the boat one can easily realise that though time seems to stand still here, people in the surrounding areas are at peace with their environment. Once this place was a natural forest rich in bio-diversity, but over the years due to indiscriminate felling of trees and poaching of wild animals, the hills of the reserve forest under Jaldi beat of Chunati Forest Range became barren. The forest once full of valuable trees like garjan, chapalish, teak, bailum and animals like elephant, tiger, deer, fox, wild boar and bear now
became a place free of animals and hillocks without tree or bush. For conserving bio-diversity, developing eco-tourism and entertainment
and recreational facilities, a three-year project was taken in 2003-2004 fiscal. A 400-feet long hanging bridge, which is the longest such bridge in the country, was constructed to connect t wo hills which has added extra beauty to the Eco-Park. Up to the 2005-2006 fiscal, the government has spent about Tk 6.5 crore to develop infrastructure facilities in the Banskhali Eco-Park. Two picnic sheds, two rest houses, two hilltop observation towers, a 100 feet long suspension bridge on the canal connecting Daner Chhara and Bamer Chhara have been constructed besides creation of some other facilities. For enjoying boat ride two engine boats, four pedal boats, two speed boats and two swan boats were collected which being rented out to the
tourists on hour basis. Initiative has also been taken for setting up a reproduction centre of
the rare species of local animals like sambar, maya harin, leopard and a few birds, which are on the verge of extinction. In a survey, conducted in 1997, there were 45 species of mammals, 85
species of birds, 25 species of reptiles and seven species of amphibians in the area where the Eco-Park has created. But encroachment and poaching have left the area with fewer numbers of animals. Earlier, there were 310 species of trees in the area, but many of the plant species are not available now. The facilities already created in the Banskhali Eco-Park are no doubt
could attract tourists. But lack of publicity about the facilities, narrow road, unavailability of secure accommodation and hygienic food and drink are
the main hindrances to enjoy the natural beauty of the Eco-Park for the tourists.