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SYLHET, Oct 22: The rapid growth of resorts, hotels, motels and cottages in Sylhet and neighbouring Moulvibazar is raising concerns over environmental destruction, tourist safety and widespread regulatory violations.
While tourism has boosted investment in the region, hills, hillocks and forest areas are reportedly being cleared to build commercial resorts, many of which operate without necessary approvals, fire safety arrangements and environmental clearances.
A growing number of small establishments, often marketed as eco-resorts, are being built by cutting hills or clearing forests. Some consist of only a few rooms made of wood and bamboo, while access roads are being constructed by removing trees and vegetation.
Field visits to several resorts found that many lacked dedicated security and firefighting systems, emergency exits, fire licences and clearance from the Department of Environment. Many also had no CCTV cameras or night guards, raising concerns about the safety of overnight guests.
In some cases, owners reportedly manage the establishments themselves, leaving little oversight of activities inside the premises.
The issue has drawn renewed attention following a deadly fire at Cox’s Bazar’s Tupputup Resort that killed 10 tourists, prompting questions over how unapproved establishments continue to operate without adequate monitoring.
Hundreds of resorts, unclear legal status
Sylhet district has at least 550 hotels, motels and resorts, but government offices reportedly lack comprehensive information about their ownership, registration and legal status.
Moulvibazar, declared a tourism district in 2008, has around 200 resorts, according to a private-sector survey cited in the report. More than 100 of them are located in Sreemangal.
The Radhanagar area, known as a tourist hub on the outskirts of Sreemangal, has emerged as a major centre for resort construction, with an estimated 40 to 50 eco-resorts operating there.
The expansion has raised concerns over biodiversity in nearby forest areas, including Lawachara National Park and surrounding tea gardens.
Investors in the sector reportedly include local entrepreneurs, corporate groups from Dhaka, industrialists, politicians, lawyers, bankers, government officials, actors and cricketers.
Some have bought plots as small as two to three decimals or leased hillocks to run tourism businesses.
Legal operators complain of unfair competition
Owners of established resorts say unregulated businesses are undermining operators who comply with regulations and pay taxes.
SK Das Sumon, general secretary of the Sreemangal Tourism Service Association, told Sarabangla that resort construction in hilly areas requires permission from the deputy commissioner, the Department of Environment and the union parishad.
He estimated that only 10 to 15 resorts in Sreemangal could be considered legally compliant.
Selim Ahmed, president of the association and owner of Grand Selim Resort, said more than 100 resorts had sprung up in Sreemangal, although only a small fraction had proper legal status.
He said the association has around 60 resort members and argued that stricter enforcement would curb unregulated expansion and protect compliant businesses.
Limited environmental clearances
Moulvibazar Department of Environment Assistant Director Md Maidul Islam said around 60 resorts had obtained environmental clearance from the department.
Authorities have filed cases and imposed fines against establishments operating without clearance, he said.
The department issues clearances for resorts with 20 rooms or more, while the status of smaller establishments remains unclear, according to the official.
Sylhet divisional director of the Department of Environment Md Abul Kalam Azad said the department issues clearances to hotels and resorts with investments of at least Tk 50 lakh.
He said establishments granted approval were regularly monitored.
Sreemangal Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Ziaur Rahman said the administration was compiling a comprehensive database of hotels and resorts, covering land ownership, approvals and licences.
Authorities investigate allegations of hill cutting, and construction is not allowed without approval for changing land classification, he said.
Two establishments have recently been ordered to suspend operations for violating regulations, he added.
Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Touhiduzzaman Pavel said the administration oversees five-star and three-star hotels and resorts, but acknowledged that the approval status of other establishments was not fully known.
Environmentalists and concerned citizens have called for urgent action to stop uncontrolled construction, warning that the use of the term “eco-resort” does not automatically make a project environmentally friendly or legally compliant.
They said sustainable tourism development must take into account land classification, project type and size, with all required permissions secured before construction begins.