Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Visit Bangladeshs Inaugural Safari Park in Coxs Bazar
Prime Minister Tareq Rahman is scheduled to visit the Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar on June 13, marking a high-profile inspection of the nation’s first facility dedicated to wildlife conservation and eco-tourism. Located in the Chakaria upazila, approximately 107 kilometers from Chittagong, the park serves as a vital sanctuary spanning 900 hectares of hilly terrain, forests, and reservoirs.
The park’s origins date back to the 1980-81 fiscal year, when the Forest Department established a deer breeding center on 42.5 hectares of land. Over the subsequent decades, the site underwent significant expansion. Between 1999 and 2006, the park’s footprint was increased to 900 hectares, establishing the foundation for its current infrastructure. In 2016, a ten-year master plan was approved, leading to ongoing development and modernization projects that began in 2019.
According to Abu Naser Mohammad Yasin Newaz, a divisional forest officer with the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department in Chittagong, preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit are complete. Officials note that the park’s core mandate remains the preservation of wildlife, research, and environmental education, building upon the substantial developmental investments made in the early 2000s.
Dulahazara currently functions as one of the country’s most significant wildlife repositories. Park records indicate that 341 animals across 52 species—including lions, tigers, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and various primates—reside within specialized enclosures. Furthermore, nearly 1,000 animals across 123 species, such as pangolins and various wild cats, roam freely within the park's expansive, natural environment. Acting Officer Md. Manzurul Alam emphasized that the park's design allows visitors to observe animal behaviors from a safe distance, particularly within the popular safari zone, which offers guided vehicle tours.
Beyond its role as an animal sanctuary, the park represents a critical botanical ecosystem. Research published in 2023 in the *Journal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bio-resource Management* highlights the area's rich variety of indigenous trees, shrubs, and orchids. Chittagong University researchers identified 835 saplings across 56 tree species, noting the park's robust potential for natural forest regeneration. Experts, including Professor Mohammad Kamal Hossain, maintain that the park is an essential reservoir for native flora, including species like Garjan and Telsur, which have historically faced threats from illegal logging and land encroachment.
As the park prepares for the Prime Minister's arrival, management continues to balance its popularity as a tourist destination—attracting thousands of visitors during peak seasons—with the challenges of habitat restoration and resource protection. While the ongoing development projects aim to enhance veterinary care and visitor facilities, researchers have recommended strengthened management protocols to mitigate human-induced threats to biodiversity. For many, Dulahazara remains not only a premier travel destination in the shadow of the Cox's Bazar coast but a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s commitment to natural heritage.
