The role of Ramgarh in the liberation war was very important. The first training center of the Liberation Army was opened in Ramgarh. After the fall of Rangamati on April 13, 1971, Chittagong Hill Tracts district headquarters was shifted from there to Ramgarh. After coming to Ramgarh, the then Deputy Commissioner Mr. H T Imam started the administrative activities under the government of independent Bangladesh.
Khagrachari is called the queen of natural beauty. It has a great reputation among tourists. Ramgarh is one of the most touristic areas of Khagrachari. There are many places to see here including inaccessible hills, lush greenery, decorated tea gardens, hanging bridges, Ramgarh Lake, Bangabandhu Park, Hill Region Agricultural Research Center, Bangladesh Bharat Maitri Bridge, BGB Foundation Center. Now I would like to share my recent travel experience in Ramgarh.
The pride of Ramgarh is the Feni river, which is a fast-flowing torrential river. The village is named “Kalsi Mukh” as it is naturally formed in the shape of a pitcher near the mouth of this river. This “Kalsi Mukha” is built on an area of 100 acres (approx). The interior of the place is made exactly like a pitcher. And for this reason the village is known as a unique tourist area of Ramgarh area.
The village is surrounded by the course of Feni river from three sides and is entirely within India. Anyone entering the village will feel as if they are in India. It may be noted that during the Great War of Independence in 1971, the freedom fighters crossed this village and crossed the border to enter Bangladesh and fought for freedom. That is why this village of Vaishnabpur bears the witness of this important history. There is only one 50 feet road to enter and exit the village. There is no second road. India is everywhere.
Located in a beautiful natural environment near the banks of the liberation war memorial Feni river, the ancient Sub-Divisional Administrator’s Bungalow or SDO Bungalow is a testament to a hundred years of history and tradition. In 1920, the British Government elevated Ramgarh Thana as the sub-division of the then Chittagong Hill Tracts (the district headquarters was Rangamati). 1-2 years before this, the office and residence (bungalow) of the Sub-Divisional Administrator (SDO) was built near the Feni River at Ramgarh Thana Sadar. SDO Saheb’s bungalow is built in a special construction style in British pattern.
From here he conducted administrative activities under the independent Bangaldesh government until the fall of Ramgarh on 2 May 1971. In 1983, after Khagrachari sub-division was upgraded to district and Ramgarh sub-division was downgraded to upazila, the sub-division administration was abolished. Due to this, the ancient traditions of SDO office and SDO bungalow were abandoned.
Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) Memorial
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was formed on 29 June 1795 with 448 soldiers. The force started from Ramgarh as Ramgarh Local Battalion with 6 rounds of shells, 4 cannons and 2 irregular cavalry. In the late seventeenth century, when the Lusai Rebellion broke out in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the East India Company formed the ‘Ramgarh Local Battalion’ to protect the area. Later, after the partition of India in 1947, the force was renamed East Pakistan Rifles (EPR). In 1972 it was renamed as BDR (Bangladesh Rifles). The latest name was Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in 2011.
The ‘Rifles Monument’ has been established to commemorate the glorious birth of the BGB during its long years at Ramgarh near the Indian border. Apart from writing a brief history of the birth of the BGB, 8 figures or terracottas of the evolution of the force made of burnt clay have been placed on the altar of the monument.
This hanging bridge is located in the middle of the lake. At the entrance to this lake there is a memorial sculpture of 1971 liberation war at gate no. This beautiful natural environment friendly place is really amazing. Hanged by cables on two pillars in the middle of the lake, this beautiful hanging bridge looks like a giraffe’s neck. Eight and 16 ropes have been tied on the necks of two tall giraffes built at the entrance of the bridge. Giraffe bridge is made of wood. Two long railings on both sides are made of steel.
On entering the city at the border of Ramgarh, I saw a huge tea garden of 1400 acres. This tea garden was established in the fifties. At the center of this garden is a lake. The green color of this lake and the tea garden together create an irresistible beauty.
The Ramgarh tea garden has already become well known in the tea world of Bangladesh for its incredible success in producing high quality tea. The tea garden is ranked as one of the best gardens in the country for quality and best liquor. Various developmental initiatives have been taken to implement the plan to further increase the reputation and production of tea in this garden.
Asia’s largest rubber plantation
This rubber plantation is not located in Ramgarh. It falls on the road to Ramgarh. It is located in Fatikchari Upazila of Chittagong. A nursery was first started here in 1968 on a small scale. Later its size gradually increased. After Bangladesh became independent in 1971, the garden was handed over to the Bangladesh Forestry Development Corporation in 1972 through an ordinance. At that time its area was 401 acres. At present, Fatikchari rubber plantation occupies an area of about 5000 acres. It is recognized as the largest rubber plantation in Asia.
Rows of trees and greenery give the garden a different charm. From a bird’s eye view, it looks like a canvas painted by an artist. Visitors from different parts of the country come here every day. A road of about two kilometers has been made from Heyako Bazar deep into the garden. Although locally named as Chairman Road, it is called Selfie Road by tourists. This road connects Heyako-Meersrai and Heyako-Ramgarh roads. Tourists who come to take selfies are eager to take selfies in the beautiful beauty of the rubber garden.
Bangladesh-India Friendship Bridge-1
At one end of the Bangladesh-India Friendship Bridge-1, built on the Feni River, which is about two kilometers long, is Sabrum town in South Tripura, and Ramgarh in Bangladesh is at the other end. The land border between Bangladesh and India is more than 4000 kilometers long - and many rivers like the Brahmaputra, Padma, Ichamati or Feni separate the two countries along this long border. Although the international border cuts across these rivers, connecting the two countries on the border - there was no such bridge till now. If it becomes operational, the Bangladesh-India Friendship Bridge-1 will expand trade and commerce with Bangladesh with India’s northeastern states of Tripura, along with Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal. Socio-economic conditions may change.
Some other pics:
How to go : The distance between Dhaka to Ramgarh is 211 Km by road And about 99 km from Chittagong. 10/15 buses leave from Dhaka to Ramgarh Khagrachari every day. Tickets can be collected from Saidabad, Kamalapur, Gabtali, Fakirapool Kalabagan and Tttipara. Ramgarh can be reached directly by bus from S Alam, Shyamoli, Saudia, Centrumatin and Shanti Paribahan. Moreover, one can come to Ramgarh from Dhaka via Hillking or Hillbird, CNG and your own transport via Baraiyar Hat.
Where to stay : Bonchaya Resort
Final Word : Ramgarh Upazila is full of natural beauty, variety of mountain springs and greenery. Ramgarh is the only upazila of the mountainous Khagrachari district, known as the queen of forms of Bangladesh, has various scenic tourist spots. The bordering Feni River along with the many flowing canals of clear fresh water will impress even more. There is a diverse tribal life here. Their culture, civil life will satisfy any human being.
Happy tourism!
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