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A 500-metre cross dam built across the Brahmaputra River to protect the riverbank from erosion has rapidly become a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors from across Gaibandha and nearby upazilas.
People of all ages are gathering at the site to enjoy the river’s scenic beauty, spend time with family and friends, and escape the pressures of daily life. The nearby Teestamukh Railway Ferry Ghat, the 1971 mass grave site, and the newly emerged river chars have added to the area’s appeal.
From afternoon until sunset, the riverbank is filled with families, young people and children enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
The cross dam, constructed under the Mass Grave Protection Project at Gajaria Union in Fulchhari Upazila, measures about 500 metres in length, 100 feet in width and rises approximately 35 feet above the riverbed, making it roughly the height of a two-storey building.
The area also features the Fulchhari Upazila Parishad administrative building, the residence of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Teestamukh Ferry Ghat and the historic mass grave site. Concrete blocks have been installed along the riverbank from the Neelkuthi area to the mass grave to prevent erosion, while benches have been placed at intervals for visitors to rest and enjoy the view.
During a visit on Friday, Rafiq Rahman, a private-sector employee from Dhanghara village in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, said the vastness of the Brahmaputra and its sandbars offered a unique experience.
“There is something truly special about exploring the banks and chars of the Brahmaputra. The cross dam built across the river has become a major attraction,” he said.
Afroza Akter, who was visiting her village home in Gajaria from Rajshahi during the holidays, said she came to the riverbank to enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty.
Local resident Aminul Islam said the area previously lacked tourist attractions.
“Just as the protected riverbank in Sirajganj has developed into a tourist destination, this cross dam has given Fulchhari a similar opportunity. People are now visiting from distant places to see it,” he said.
A local school teacher said Fulchhari had lost much of its heritage and infrastructure to river erosion over the years. If the area gains recognition as a tourist destination, many local residents could earn their livelihoods through tourism-related businesses.
Shariful Islam, Executive Engineer of the Gaibandha Water Development Board, said the cross dam forms part of a larger project aimed at protecting Fulchhari Upazila from erosion by the Jamuna River.
“The structure has been designed to divert the river’s current, reducing erosion while encouraging the formation of fertile agricultural land on the chars to the north and south of the dam,” he said.
Fulchhari Union Parishad Chairman Azharul Hannan Mondal said the project would help protect important landmarks, including the 1971 mass grave and the historic Fulchhari Hat.
“If the area is developed as a tourist destination, it will create new business opportunities and provide a sustainable source of income for many local residents,” he said.
