Rangamati Correspondent

In a bid to unlock the immense potential of the hill tract's tourism sector and eradicate long-standing infrastructural deficits, Md. Habib Ajam, a member of the Rangamati Hill District Council (RHDC) and Convener of the Tourism Corporation, has implemented a series of sweeping development projects across the region.

Since assuming office 18 months ago on November 10, 2024, under the Interim Government, Azam's targeted, sustainable structural blueprints have delivered a complete transformation of Rangamati's economy and tourism landscape. His administration has prioritized modernizing neglected tourist spots, guaranteeing safety, and restoring administrative accountability to the region.

The iconic Hanging Bridge, recognized as the primary symbol of Rangamati tourism, attracts hundreds of thousands of globetrotters annually, yet its surrounding ecosystem had languished without structural maintenance for years. Under Azam’s direct supervision, a beautiful aesthetic walkway and concrete staircase network have been built on the opposite end of the bridge's entrance. Monowara Begum, President of the Rangamati District Unit of the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a local entrepreneur, highly lauded the move, noting that the previously muddy terrain used to cause frequent slip-and-fall accidents, especially among women and children. Visitors can now explore the surrounding landscape safely and comfortably. Furthermore, addressing a chronic civic grievance regarding hygiene, the council has built a state-of-the-art modern washroom complex at the site, earning deep gratitude from local shopkeepers and visiting families.

In a pioneering move for the entire Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region, an international-standard View Tower has been constructed in the Shimultoli area, located right at the entrance of Rangamati town adjacent to the Passport Office.

The architectural marvel offers panoramic aerial views of the Kaptai Lake and the surrounding emerald mountain ridges, rapidly turning into a premier destination for travelers. Mehedi Hasan, a local resident of Shimultoli, remarked that public excitement regarding the observation tower is skyrocketing. Once fully commissioned, the site is expected to trigger a massive influx of high-spending travelers, generating sustainable employment opportunities for the youth of Shimultoli and accelerating the socio-economic indicators of the entire neighborhood.

Bringing administrative order to Sajek Valley, one of the country's crown tourism jewels, the Rangamati Hill District Council has introduced a mandatory licensing framework for all commercial establishments. Championed by Habiba Azam, this institutional discipline requires all operational hotels, eco-resorts, and commercial facilities to hold authorized council permits.

Alamgir Hossain, a prominent local merchant from Baghaichhari, praised this timely regulatory step, stating that it has effectively brought Sajek’s booming corporate hospitality sector under a transparent code of conduct, introducing structural stability. In tandem with regulatory changes, the council has expanded Sajek's mountain road grids, erected concrete guard walls to mitigate landslide risks, and established heavy-vehicle parking bays, rendering the remote mountain terrain entirely accessible for elderly travelers and families.

Marking an unprecedented educational milestone in the history of the Rangamati District Council, Azam's administration introduced a month-long, intensive "Tour Guide and Hospitality Management" certification course on August 21, 2025. The human resource development blueprint has been globally lauded for building a professional, skilled workforce within the eco-tourism economy.

Md. Tajul Islam Taj, General Secretary of the Association of Hill Tourist Guides Rangamati, stated that Azam remains tirelessly focused on the structural advancement of the tourism sector, frequently executing community-driven cleanup and safety drives alongside local volunteer groups. Reaffirming this sentiment, Masud Rana Rubel, founder and General Secretary of the widely known social welfare organization "Hill Service," noted that domestic and foreign travelers previously faced severe extortion and misdirection while navigating remote tourist circuits. The newly certified local tour guides will ensure absolute comfort and security for incoming vacationers.

Demonstrating an inclusive approach, the development wave has reached beyond core leisure destinations to elevate vital transit corridors for regular citizens. A modern passenger lounge equipped with sanitation blocks has been built at the city's bustling Fishery Ghat area, which serves as the primary riverine speed-boat terminal for commuters traveling to remote Longadu and Baghaichhari Upazilas. Monir Hossain, a regular commuter from Longadu Upazila, expressed immense relief, stating that the new lounge protects general citizens from extreme weather events during long transits, while simultaneously eliminating the sanitation crisis for travelers passing through this transit hub.

Commenting on the holistic development paradigm, Md. Habib Ajam stated that the Rangamati Hill District Council is working relentlessly to establish Rangamati as a premier, eco-friendly, and secure global tourist destination through planned infrastructure, ecological preservation, and traveler-centric management systems.

Local residents, trade union leaders, and travel analysts collectively believe that his visionary administrative leadership will serve as the primary engine for the mountain region's financial prosperity in the coming years.