Forest Dept to transform 27 rest houses into resorts to attract tourists in reserve forests
Experts warn biodiversity threat
Highlights
- Forest Department has 78 rest houses and bungalows
- 27 selected for renovation
- 5 of them located inside wildlife sanctuaries
- Most of the bungalows old and in disrepair, requiring renovation
- Each has between two to five rooms
- The plan is at primary stage
The Forest Department is planning to renovate and convert 27 of its inspection bungalows and rest houses across the country into resort-style facilities for commercial rental to tourists, aimed at increasing government revenue.
The initiative includes adding modern amenities and repurposing these properties to attract eco-tourists, especially in protected and reserved forests.
While Forest Department officials have welcomed the move as a timely effort to upgrade outdated infrastructure, environmental experts and forest researchers have expressed strong reservations, warning that the plan could seriously harm Bangladesh's forest biodiversity. On the other hand, tourism experts question the commercial viability of the small-sized rest houses.
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According to officials, a preliminary list of 27 rest houses located in seven forest zones has already been prepared, and letters have been sent to relevant divisional offices to assess the current condition of the properties. A feasibility study will be conducted based on the findings, officials confirmed.
Currently, the Forest Department has 78 rest houses and bungalows across the country, most of them old and in disrepair. Some, like the one in Mynyimukh, Chittagong Hill Tracts, are over a century old. Due to poor conditions, many are not suitable for overnight stays, creating problems for officials visiting remote forest sites for surveys and supervision. Officials argue that renovation is long overdue and necessary for functional use.
Of the 27 selected for renovation, each has between two to five rooms. However, five of them are located inside wildlife sanctuaries, where overnight stays are usually restricted due to risks of zoonotic disease transmission.
The proposed locations include rest houses in Sherpur (1), Gazipur (2), Cox's Bazar (4), Moulvibazar (1), Habiganj (2), Rangamati (3), Khagrachari (1), Bandarban (1), Bagerhat (1), Khulna (2), Noakhali (2), and one each in Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Rangpur, and Rajshahi.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests at the Forest Department's Management Planning Unit, said, "We have identified 27 rest houses in need of urgent renovation. The idea is to modernise them and rent them out commercially to generate revenue."
Dr Mariam Akhtar, another Assistant Chief Conservator from the Development Planning Unit, added, "The plan was only taken up last week. Once we assess the condition of each rest house, a feasibility study will be conducted, and the project will be shaped accordingly. Nothing is finalised yet."
Biodiversity at risk
Experts, however, have sounded the alarm over the environmental impact. Dr Kamal Hossain, a senior forest researcher and Supernumerary Professor at the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, said that increased human movement in forest areas can severely disrupt ecosystems. "When too many people enter a forest, wildlife gets scared away, and plant species come under threat. Encouraging tourism in forests is unwise," he warned.
Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin of the same institute argued that commercialising forest rest houses would significantly increase human presence and endanger biodiversity. "Restoration for official use is fine, but I personally oppose their commercialisation," he said.
He also warned that forests are already under existential threat from illegal encroachment, and converting rest houses into commercial resorts would further aggravate the crisis.
Commercial viability in question
Tourism industry insiders also question the plan's commercial feasibility. Zakir Hossain, who has long operated an eco-resort in Bandarban, said that small facilities with just a few rooms are unlikely to cover operational costs, let alone generate profit. "Running a two-to-four room resort isn't financially sustainable. To make this viable, these rest houses would need to be expanded, and trained staff would be required — something the Forest Department currently lacks," he said.
He also pointed to a nationwide shortage of skilled personnel and noted that Bangladesh's tourism sector is currently struggling. "Given all these challenges, the success of this plan as a revenue-generating venture is highly doubtful," he added.
As the Forest Department moves ahead with feasibility studies, debate continues to grow over the balance between forest conservation and tourism-driven revenue. Environmentalists are urging caution, emphasising that forests are meant to be preserved, not commercialised.
