Kishoreganj district is better known as Haor-Baor district. There is immense potential for tourism around the haor. If you want to get food for the experience of small villages floating like an island in the water, clear water games, fishermen’s busyness in fishing, small water forests, there is no alternative to boat ride in Nikli Haor of Nikli Upazila of Kishoreganj.
During the monsoon season, the haor of Kishoreganj has become a wonderful and scenic spot for divers and travelers. In the presence of thousands of visitors every day, the newly created spots of the haor are becoming more and more popular. In particular, Balikhla, Chamraghat of Karimganj Upazila, Chhatirchar Karsban and Beribandh of Nikli Upazila, Akhra of Mithamin Upazila of Delhi, Hijal Forest adjoining Akhra, Hasanpur Bridge, Hijaljani of Tarail Upazila, Anti-British Revolutionary Barrister of Itna Upazila, Bhupesh Gupta, The historical Qutub Mosque etc. built during the period fascinates and arouses every tourist.
The incredible All-Weather Road connecting Mithamin-Itna-Ashtagram Upazila is a wonder of Haor tourism. As a result, radical and revolutionary changes have taken place in the whole haor scene. This road has not only changed the communication system of the whole haor area, but has also strengthened the economic base of the whole haor. There is a new touch of change in the living standards of the people of Haor. This all-weather road, which flows through the heart of the rough haor during the rainy season, evokes a strange and magical scene.
Tourists flock from all over the country to enjoy this extraordinary beauty on the Nikli embankment and the all-weather road in Mithamin. The 35 km all-weather road from Itna to Ashtagram Upazila via Mithamin has become an irresistible tourist attraction. This once neglected and remote town of Mukhrit Haor is now visited by thousands of tourists every day. The massive influx of tourists has opened new avenues for employment for the region’s poor unemployed youth. Many young people are earning a lot of money every day by transporting motorbikes, easybikes and other vehicles. A class of professional boatmen are getting the opportunity to earn money by taking tourists to deep haor by boat, trawler and speedboat. In addition, the cost of transporting goods has come down a lot as the communication system has become easier. As a result, there is easy availability of essential commodities in the market and the prices have come within the purchasing limits. More than two hundred temporary hotels, restaurants and food shops have been set up at Balikhla, Chamraghat, Mithamin Sadar, Nikli Beribandh and Itna-Ashtagram Sadar in Haor to cater to hundreds of families. In the overall economic system, these infrastructures of Haor are playing a huge role in the overall development of the country. Local law and order situation has also become more normal than before as unemployed youths have turned to work. It is known that nowhere in Bangladesh is there such a long second road in the middle of the haor.
This all-weather road in Haor and other infrastructures have become a unique address for eye-catching beauty, entertainment and serenity.
Afsana Deepa
Lecturer – Social Work
R.S Ideal College. Kishorganj
Afsana Deepa 