Eid vacationers crowd Hardinge, Lalon Shah bridge sites

The Hardinge Bridge and Lalon Shah Bridge sites that join together at Pakshi in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district are largely crowded by visitors every day during the ongoing Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.

Apart from this, the neighbourhood has already turned into a special recreation spot for people from far and near, including foreign tourists.

Fascinated by picturesque scenery of Pakshi, the oldest city built on the banks of the Padma, numerous tourists flock to the magical playground every day to cater to their taste for natural beauty. The area remains crowded with tour-loving people mostly.

During the Eid holiday, along with general time, the adjacent Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project area on the banks of the Padma River also witnesses overwhelming crowds of sightseers.

Visitors enjoy the bewitching beauty of dexterously built Hardinge Bridge and Lalon Shah Bridge on the banks of the Padma River.

The views of the 16 residential 20-storey buildings of the nuclear power plant, the Hardinge Bridge and Lalon Shah Bridge, in addition to three other bridges and various installations of the Pakshi Railway built during the British ear fascinate the visitors.

During a spot visit, it can be seen that hundreds of people have gathered on the Lalon Shah Bridge, under the Hardinge Bridge, and at the Pakshi Railway Station to see the four cooling towers of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, which are about 180 metres high (equivalent to about 40 floors high). The largest crowd is at the Lalon Shah Bridge.

During the Eid holiday, from morning to evening, people of all classes, young and old, rich and poor, are flocking here in search of a little entertainment. Along with this, visitors in groups are found strolling on the banks of the Padma and rowing boat on the river.

Also, the Pakshi Railway Divisional Office, where the British-era railway engine, large trees and various aesthetic railway installations dating back hundreds of years captivate everyone.

There is no forest here; there are ancient trees. There are no violent animals; the place is a home to numerous birds. There are no valleys here, only with presence of some embankment slopes. There are no mountain paths at the place where there run some tunnels.

Imran Hossain, a visitor from Jhenaidah, while visiting Lalon Shah Bridge on Tuesday, the second day of Eid, told the FE, "I am standing on the Lalon Shah Bridge and enjoying the beauty of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project and the Hardinge Bridge."

"Along with this, gentle breeze of the Padma River is cooling off my body. The environment and natural beauty here are very enjoyable. Hundreds of visitors like me are standing here and enjoying the beauty," he added.

Professor Bikash Chandra from Bhangura upazila of Pabna and Idris Ali from Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj came to visit the Hardinge Bridge and Lalon Shah Bridge areas of Pakshi with their families on the occasion of Eid. Everyone who comes here gets fascinated by the beauty of this place. Locals opined that if this area of Pakshi could be developed into a tourist centre, number of visitors from far and near would multiply adding to income of the businesses.

Professor Abul Kalam Azad of Pabna Degree College said there are traces of British colonial establishments all over Pakshi. If this area is brought under the tourism industry, more visitors would flock here.

According to those concerned, there is no tourism infrastructure in Pakshi, which is located on the banks of the Padma. The beauty of Pakshi will be completed only if the necessary infrastructure facilities are developed. If it is possible to develop Pakshi as a tourist area in a planned manner, the government would get revenue.

Tourists would be able to observe the beauty of Pakshi with satisfaction. Locals say that Pakshi's potential as a tourist destination has not been realised due to the lack of quality accommodation and food facilities for tourists.

On Tuesday, tourists Jahid Hossain from Jhenaidah, Habibur Rahman Habib from Natore and Aklima Khatun said although it is a potential tourist destination, there is no sitting arrangement for travellers here. There is also a lack of security. Cultural personality Mahbubul Haque Dudu said, "People of Ishwardi have been raising a demand for developing Pakshi as a tourist zone for a long time."

Shafiqul Islam Bachchu, president of Ishwardi Industrial and Commercial Association, said if Pakshi is developed as a tourist destination, not only it will benefit travellers, but the government will also get a huge amount of revenue.

Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Subir Kumar Das told The Financial Express, "I have a plan to promote Pakshi's Hardinge Bridge as a tourist destination, which is ongoing. Since this place is a railway site, there will be no problem if we get a clearance from them. We hope the government will soon announce upgradation of Pakshi into a tourist destination."

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