S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
During the long holiday of holy Eid-ul-Azha, the daughter of nature
Sylhet has become bustling with tourists. Tourists from outside districts have started coming to Sylhet since two days after Eid.
Tourism-related businessmen hope that due to the favorable weather, there will be a tourist influx in Sylhet for the next week. However, they also fear that the attack by smugglers on tourists in Jaflong and the expulsion of tourists from Utmachara may ultimately have a negative impact.
Tourism-related people said that tourists from different districts of the country have started coming to Sylhet in droves since Monday. After arriving in Sylhet, some people first rush to Jaflong, while others go to Sadapathar. Since Eid, an overflowing crowd of tourists has been observed in all tourist centers including Jaflong, Lalakhal, Sadapathar, Bichnakandi, Utmachara, Ratargul. Tourists were seen bathing in the clear waters of the Dhalai and Piyain rivers on the rocks and enjoying themselves.
Again, someone tried to get lost in the deep forests of Ratargul. Tourists visiting Jaflong were seen running towards the magical waterfall. However, due to the lack of rain, the waterless waterfalls may not have satisfied their minds. However, they were fascinated by the natural beauty of the mountain waterfalls.
Apart from this, there was a crowd of tourists in the tea gardens of Sylhet since the day of Eid. Tourists visiting Sylhet did not forget to visit the shrines of the saints of Sylhet, including Olikul Shiromani Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shahparan (RA).
ATM Shoaib, former president of the Sylhet Hotel Motel and Guest House Owners Association, said, “Tourists have started coming to Sylhet from outside districts since Monday. With the weather favorable and the threat of flooding gone, it is expected that there will be a tourist influx in Sylhet for the next week.
Meanwhile, some unpleasant incidents have also occurred at tourist centers.
Smugglers attacked tourists around 4 pm on Monday. In addition, some locals have been accused of expelling tourists from the Utmachhara tourist center in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner Of Sylhet Sher Mahbub Murad told that “The Upazila Executive Officer there has already been asked to investigate the incident. This is an isolated incident. I hope it will not have any impact on tourists.”
