Kaptai and Rangamati two most beautiful places in Bangladesh have been shining stars of the country’s tourism map. Celebrated for its tranquillity, tribal culture and the vast beauty of Kaptai Lake, these places once attracted travellers from across the country. But in recent years, their names appear to have quietly vanished from mainstream travel promotions.
Kaptai and Rangamati were on the map of Bangladesh as unique places long ago. In the past they have drawn visitors from world-over, because of bucolic hills, colourful tribal cultures, and the beautiful Kaptai Lake. It sounds like their names may have fallen off the general travel advertising circuit over the past few years, though.
So, what explains this silence? Is it a mere fad hopping onto another, or is there a more profound phenomenon at work?
A Glimpse into Paradise
Located in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Rangamati and Kaptai are not just mesmerizingly beautiful places but places of cultural vibrancy and serenity galore. Kaptai Lake, the largest manmade lake in South Asia and is located in the hill district of Rangamati. With the pastoral hills, tribal villages and folk crafts, the area has great potential for tourism.
But throughout this, there’s apparently been a marked reduction of them to be seen on tourism boards, travel agencies and social media campaigns.
Rangamati & Kaptai Rangamati and Kaptai, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are not only a scenic delight but deeply steeped in cultural symbolism and the serenity induced by the natural world. The damming of the Karnaphuli River created Kaptai Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes in South Asia. The area is very beautiful in terms of the scenic hills, tribal habitations and traditional crafts and has tremendous tourism potential.
There has been a diminution in their presence in the social media campaigns, the travel companies and the tourist boards, however, taking this into account.
Obstacles of security and administration
The Chittagong Hill Tracts, where Rangamati and Kaptai are located are politically and ethnically sensitive areas. Amid historical conflict and ongoing talks over indigenous rights and land claims, the government has imposed some restrictions:
Foreign visitors must often obtain advance permission.
There are lots of checkpoints and aspects of life restricted.
Officials are wary of drawing too much attention to an area that continues to experience occasional unrest.
These obstacles make it almost impossible for tourism agencies to advertise the area at a general level.
Inadequate Infrastructure
Another major factor is the lack of modern tourism infrastructure. Unlike Cox’s Bazar or Sylhet, Rangamati and Kaptai still suffer from:
- Poor road connectivity and unreliable transport
- Limited options for quality accommodation
- Weak mobile and internet connectivity
- Naval regulations that restrict free movement on Kaptai Lake
Tourism development has not kept pace with potential, which discourages tour operators from featuring the region in their packages.
Shift in Marketing Priorities
Tourism in an era of social media is all about places that are remote and undiscovered and hot and those places that are none of those things but can land a helicopter and offer an “Instagram water.” Other such destinations are therefore:
Sajak Valley
Tea gardens and swamp forests of Sylhet
Cox’s Bazar and St. Martin’s Island
have gone, have become more popular, while Rangamati and Kaptai has slowly lost it. The area is largely unattended by content creators and influencers because of logistical concerns and a dearth of amenities for travellers.
Cultural and Environmental Issues
It’s also important that the voice of the indigenous community of that area must be heard also. Many have blamed over-tourism for trouble with housing and the loss of their culture. Or they campaign for responsible tourism, or respectful tourism, or hardly any access at all.
They just haven’t promoted the spot very aggressively as a point of interest for the former. I suspect the Bangladesh Tourism Board may have found it respectful to simply let the water on its way and not call attention to the tragedy.
So, Is It Deliberate Neglect?
It’s not exactly neglect but it is a strategic silence. The cautious decision to avoid actively pushing Kaptai and Rangamati probably reflects a combination of bureaucratic aversion to drama, ill-preparedness and wish to respect local emotions. The aim may be to ward off the kind of mass tourism that wasn’t, in the end, quite ready for the region.
This Way…To Ethical Tourism
But there is still hope, and a way to promote Kaptai and Rangamati in a more ethical, sustainable manner:
Produce docu-style content that tells the stories of the people and the land.
Work with local communities to create eco-tourism projects.
Advocate for slow travel, encouraging longer and more immersive stays.
Champion sustainable infrastructure investment with cultural respect.
These places are still magical They just require the right type of care.