Blow for nature lovers as Gazipur safari park closed for 3 months

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur, which suffered significant damage on 5 August following the fall of the fascist Awami League government in the face of a mass upsurge, has remained closed for the last three months, leaving nature enthusiasts disappointed.

Due the closure, city dwellers, who yearn for a respite from their hectic schedules, are missing out on the opportunity to encounter wildlife up close in the country's largest park away from the urban hustle and bustle. With the drop in tourists in the area, the businesses that rely on tourism, including transportation and food services, have also been affected.

The authorities said the park has been kept closed for renovation work as vandalism was carried out inside it, damaging a number of infrastructure.
They also said the park may open to the public at the end of the current month on completion of the renovation work.

According to officials, vandalism took place inside the park on 5 August when deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country in the face of a mass uprising.

Many birds and other animals were also looted while several spots were damaged. Among the looted birds are two peacocks and 10 macaws. The attackers damaged the statue of Bangabandhu, a tourist bus, two jeeps, five motorcycles, a display map and office furniture.

Talking to the Daily Sun, veterinary surgeon of the park Md Mostafizur Rahman said the park may open at the end of the current month on completion of the renovation work.

"The work is underway inside the park. Due to the work, we've kept the park closed to the public. I hope we can open it by the end of the current month."

Visitors return from gate

Many visitors, unaware of the closure, have arrived at the park only to be turned away from the closed gate.  This correspondent visited the park on 2 November when he found that people were returning from the gate in a dejected mood.

They alleged that no public notice has been attached to the entry gate.  

Talking to the Daily Sun, Suraiya Begum who came to visit the park with her family members said, "We've come from Dhaka travelling 45 kms but we're at a loss seeing the gate closed. The park authorities should have made a public announcement through digital media regarding the closure."   

She also said, "We've got some time out of our busy schedule for a break. Our children needed open nature to break their monotony and it's a suitable place for it. There’re a few spaces like it for the cause but we miss it."

Like her, several families were seen at the entry gate of the park.

Rasel Ahmed, a youth from Savar who came to the entry gate, said, "After coming to the gate, I came to know about the closure. Some people at the gate said it was closed for vandalism in August but it should not take so much time for the renovation."

Local businesses, particularly that rely on tourism, have also been affected by the closure of the park.

Talking to the correspondent, some restaurant shop owners and drivers of easy-bikes said they could not earn their livelihood due to the closure of the park.

Shakil Hossain, who used to ferry tourists from Bagher Bazar to the Safari Park regularly, said, "Many people come to the park only to find it closed and become dejected. We ask them to visit Nuhash Palli and nearby resorts."

He also said, "When the park was open, we   could earn Tk1,200-Tk1,500 daily but now we could earn only Tk400-Tk500. Like us, the nearby hotels and restaurants also lost their earnings due to the closure of the park."

The government opened the park on 3810.0 acres of land at Baro Mathura Mouza under Mawna union of Sreepur upazila and Piruzali Mouza of Piruzali union of Sadar upazila of Gazipur in October 2013. According to the park authorities, around 2,000-2,500 tourists used to visit the park every day.

The park is home to a diverse range of animals, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to witness wildlife in a natural setting.  There are eight tigers, four lions, 150 deer, six Maya deer, six Sambar deer, 11 gayals, 30 zebras, two giraffes, 12 wildebeests, nine nilgais, 14 bears, 200 parrots, 11 ostriches and eight Madantaks in the park.