Sajek and other tourist spots and recreational centres in Rangamati have come alive with visitors during the Eid-ul-Adha holiday. Tourists from different parts of the country are exploring the district’s popular attractions, while many are taking engine-powered boats to tour Kaptai Lake.

A visit to the Hanging Bridge at the Rangamati Parjatan Holiday Complex on Saturday afternoon found large crowds of visitors on the bridge. Many tourists were also hiring tourist boats from the area beside the bridge to cruise around Kaptai Lake.

Apart from the Hanging Bridge, tourists have been visiting destinations such as Polwel Park, the DC Bungalow, Rangadip, Assam Bosti Bridge, the Assam Basti–Kaptai connecting road, and various resort cottages surrounding Kaptai Lake. Visitor numbers have also increased at Sajek Valley, the cloud-covered hill destination in Rangamati.

Khorshed Alam, Sohel Rana, and Habib, who travelled from Feni, said, “We came to visit the Hanging Bridge in Rangamati for the first time. We used to see photos of the bridge on Facebook, and now it feels great to see it with our own eyes. Rangamati is very beautiful.”

Khaled Mahmud, who came from Dhaka, said, “I visited Rangamati once before during the monsoon when the lake was full of water. The water level is lower now, but it’s still beautiful. There’s a lake on one side and hills on the other. After spending the day cruising on the lake by boat, I came to see the Hanging Bridge.”

Md Fakhrul Islam, a lineman at the tourist boat terminal, said, “Around 40 tourist boats are currently operating on the lake. Compared to the previous two days, about 20 to 25 boats were rented throughout the day today. Tourist turnout has been much better on the third day.”

Alok Bikash Chakma, manager of the Rangamati Parjatan Holiday Complex, said, “On the third day of Eid, around 3,500 tourists visited the Hanging Bridge. On the second day of Eid, the number was 1,800. Visitor turnout is higher today compared with the previous two days. Our hotel has also around 60 percent bookings through June 1.”

Tourist arrivals, meanwhile, have also increased in Sajek Valley during the Eid holiday. Around 3,500 tourists visited Sajek Valley on the third day of Eid, according to the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners Association.

Suparna Deb Barma, president of the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners Association, said, “All resorts and cottages in Sajek are fully booked today compared to the previous two days. Around 3,500 tourists have arrived. We have 125 cottages, and every one of them has been booked.”