Tilagarh Eco-Park remains unsupervised since political changeover

The Tilagarh Eco-Park in Sylhet remains unsupervised since the Sheikh Hasina-led government's fall on August 5 as the lessee, an Awami League man, has fled without making any arrangements.

During a recent visit to the site, this correspondent found that both the front entrance and the rear gate were open and unguarded. There was none at the ticket counter either, while a number of youngsters wandered around.

The Forest Department established the eco-park on 112 acres in the Tilagarh area. Previously, the entry fee was Tk 23, including VAT of Tk 3.

Nobody had to pay the entry fee to enter the property since the political regime change, said some Forest Department workers serving the park area. The authorities hanged notices on the main entrance and animal sheds that read, "The park is temporarily shut on security grounds."

A good number of visitors, including students, used to visit the park every day since its establishment in a reserved forest near Sylhet Agricultural University and Sylhet Engineering College back in 2006. However, the number of visitors dipped in the last three months.

The park at present has 39 animals, including 19 deer, peacock, python, macaw bird, grey parrot, Australian pheasant coucal, silver pheasant, western swamphen, etc.

Animal keeper Masud Ahmed told The Financial Express only four people were working at the site to feed the animals and do other menial tasks, including cleaning. He also said the lessee had left without making any alternative arrangements.

Forest guard Liton Bhowmik said, "We are here to guard the large site as forest officials often come for a visit."

This correspondent found the canteen and other sheds as well as the children's zone deserted. The animal sheds were in a sorry state. There were private vehicles running without any restriction on the road passing through the park. The road leads to a gas field and adjacent areas.

Divisional Forest Officer in Sylhet Md Humayun Kabir said the lessee, Subedur Rahman Munna, would operate the park under the banner of Omi Enterprise.

"In a written petition in September, he [Munna] mentioned his inability to run the park, although his contract is set to end on December 7. He has cleared the lease payment," the official said.

Kabir said Munna had held the lease for the last three to four years with annual renewal. For 2024, the lease payment was Tk 430,000.

He further said the animals would be sent to safari parks where they would be reared. "Besides, the government has decided to make fresh arrangements for the country's eco-parks."

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