Bandarban Correspondent
Despite the withdrawal of the travel ban, the expected number of tourists did not arrive in Bandarban during the long Eid holiday. Many hotel, motel, resort, and guesthouse rooms in the district remained vacant during the holiday period.
An illegal hill-cutting spree is underway on the eastern side of Thoaiynga Para Government Primary School in Bandarban, with so-called "hill grabbers" relentlessly using excavators day and night. Despite the environmental destruction taking place in plain sight, local authorities remain inactive. Locals allege that this environmentally destructive activity is being carried out with the backing of certain government officials and political patronage. As a result, the region's biodiversity and natural environment are being severely damaged, and the risk of fatal landslides during the monsoon season is increasing.
In the hills of Bandarban, a tangy fruit plant called Roselle is now being cultivated commercially. Thanks to its edible leaves, fibers, and fruit, this vitamin-rich and medicinal plant is gaining increasing popularity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
In the hilly paths of Bandarban, vibrant red, yellow, blue, and golden flowers are now in full bloom — as if nature itself is greeting the arriving tourists. The view is so enchanting that travelers may feel as though someone adorned like a bride waits silently at the foot of the hills, ready to receive them.
Faced with intense heatwaves, pest infestations, and irrigation shortages, mango growers in Bandarban are increasingly worried about poor yields this season. To minimize costs and maximize profits, many orchard owners are selling their green mangoes to wholesale buyers.
Munlai Para, a well-organized and picturesque hilly village in Ruma Upazila of Bandarban, is famous for its cleanliness. Every Machang house yard is adorned with hibiscus and other flowering plants, enhancing its beauty manifold. Nestled along the banks of the Sangu River, the village welcomes visitors with its eco-system homestays, traditional hill cuisine, thrilling trekking experiences, kayaking, the country’s longest zip line, and various exciting events.