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Tourist spots in the Sylhet region have been experiencing a record number of visitors during the ongoing 10-day public holiday to celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of Muslims, which began June 5. 

Tourism related business persons, including owners of hotels, motels and resorts, in Sylhet city as well as in the district towns of Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sunamganj, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that highest number of tourists is expected this time to visit Sylhet for spending the vacation and enjoying the Eid pleasure. 

Stating Sylhet region really amazing and unique destination to the tourists from all over the country, they said that the scenario of hillocks with vast valleys of green tea gardens easily captures the attention of visitors. 

The Sylhet metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s former president Afzal Rashid Chowdhury, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that visitors flock to the scenic spots of Sylhet region during different public holidays, but this time the number of visitors is much higher because of the long duration of Eid vacation, they said. 

He said that they were expecting that the number of tourists to Sylhet region would exceed one million during this Eid vacation till June 14.

‘When the crowd of tourists goes higher, every single person involved in the tourism industry is benefited. From hoteliers, restaurant owners, transport owners and drivers, boatmen to grocery store owners and local products sellers, everyone,’ Afzal, also an hotelier, said.

‘So, we should serve and assist travelers sincerely. In particular, their satisfaction and safety should be prioritised,’ he added.

Apart from hilly areas of tea estates, Jaflong, Sada Pathar, Lalakhal, Sreepur, Ratargul, Pangtumai, Mayabati Jharna, Jaintia Devir Rajbari, Dibir Haor, Bichhanakandi, Lobachhara, Madhabkund and Hamham waterfalls, Shreemanagal, Lauwa Chhara National Forest, Satchhari National Forest, Tanguar Haor and Himadri Lake are among the attractive tourist spots in the division. 

Besides, Raja Gaur Gobinda Hillock, Shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal ® and Hazrat Shahparan ® also remain in the priority list of the tourists coming from the capital city Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

M Naser Rahman, owner of the 5 star standard DuSai Resort & Spa in Moulvibazar, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on Monday that his resort is absolutely packed with guests till June 13.

‘This is not only the case of my guesthouse, but in all the guesthouses in Moulvibazar. All of the hotels and guesthouses are houseful,’ he commented.

Mintu Das, general manager of a hotel at East Zindabazar in Sylhet city, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on Sunday that 100 per cent of rooms of all guesthouses, including hotels, motels and resorts, had been booked before the beginning of the holiday.

Sylhet Hotel, Motel and Guest House Owners’ Association general secretary GM Kibria told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the number of visitors is much higher this time than any other holiday.

Babul Ahmed, manager of Green View Resort at Guchchagram area of ​​Jaflong, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that this time, all the rooms were booked around two weeks in advance because of the long holiday.

‘As a result, many people have been called us over phone. We have no way but to turn them away,’ he said.

Sazzad Kadir, a government service holder, who came to Jaflong along with her family from Dhaka, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on Sunday afternoon that they had to spend the year into huge workload.

‘This long Eid vacation was like a golden opportunity for us. So, I have come to Sylhet with my family to spend some time in touch of nature,’ he said.

Shabnam Akter, a teacher of reputed educational institute at Dhanmondi area in Dhaka, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that they did not book any guesthouse before coming in Sylhet.

‘We reached Sylhet Sunday evening, but we had to stroll around a number of hotels and guesthouse until late at night to find a double room,’ Shabnam said.

She said that they even felt happy after they succeeded to rent a room for three days.

Talking to ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·, Sylhet Hotel, Motel and Guesthouse Owners’ Association general secretary Golam Kibria said that the decision of sudden closure of a tourist spot and the spread of rumors of early flash flood have discouraged some tourists.

‘The number of tourists would be higher this time, otherwise,’ he claimed.

Kibria, also owner of a business class lodge Hotel Valley Garden, said that when it rains, low-lying areas are flooded instantly, which is natural for Sylhet.

Sylhet deputy commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the administration has already strengthened its activities at the tourist spots.

‘Tourist police, traffic control team and medical support systems have been kept active to ensure safety and travel facilities for the visitors during the Eid vacation,’ he said.

Tourist Police’s Sylhet Zone additional superintendent Md Motiur Rahman told that all kinds of measures were taken to ensure the overall safety of travelers.

‘Help desks have been opened at the prime tourist centres in the region so that the travelers can contact us immediately in case of any necessity,’ he added.