Journey to Tanguar Haor: by the Birisiri YMCA

Last Updated (Monday, 08 January 2024 16:59)

The Covid-19 pandemic brought many changes in our lives and still we bear its effect in our daily activities. All we may have experiences stress, anxiety, fear, sadness and loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic and which negatively affected our mental health. Because of the negative effects in our mind, we may miss to take care of our own body and our mind did not connect with other because of physical distance and was able to take care of our society members too. Nowadays we are recovering from such negative effects and coming back to our daily life routine. The Bangladesh Y Movement always try to build a strong supportive community and strengthen relationships among its members through its activities and emphasized to recover the negative impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic by taking different kinds of activities. The Birisiri YMCA (one of the local YMCA) arranged such a wonderful day-long (whole day) outdoor trip in the famous lake of the Tanguar (Haor) for its members and community people. The Tanguar Haor (lake) is one of famous tourist site and world heritage site situated in Sunamganj, Shylet district in Bangladesh. Where the blue sky plays with the water, where the white cloud sleep in the arms of the mountain, where the row of the tree every day take a bath in the blue water and color of forest lives below the water. The sunrise in the early, then smile, the moon surprised to see her beauty in the water glass, the row of stars are sleeping in the arms of the left- the everything imagination come true when you see the Tanguar Haor.

On 4th August, 2023 Birisiri YMCAs hired a rent bus and a big boat for the whole day trip. Early in the morning around fifty (50) members including youths, women and few respective guests started one and half hour journey by the rented bus and arrived Kalmakanda Bazar. In the road of Birisiri YMCA to Kalmakanda Bazar, people can see the natural beauty including Indian green hills, green crops fields, many farms, local bazar and different villages. About one and half hours later whole team reached to the Kalmakanda Bazar area where the rented boat was waiting to float on the Tanguar Haor. Before the whole day floating in the Haor the Birisiri YMCA management team prepared and brought packets launch, life jackets for all, musical instruments and sufficient drinking water for everybody.

When the boat started its engine, everybody was excited to see the beauty of the Haor. They found that the whole Tanguar Haor is converted like crystalline aquarium whose height is 20-25 feet tall. The water creates a blue earth by the theft from the sky. The cloud is flying under the sky during the trip and everybody felt joy and started to sing with the youth forum members. After a few-hour-journey, the boat arrived at the Watch Tower which was located within the Dharmapasha and the Tahirpur Upazila of Sunamganj District. It is a high watch tower that was constructed by the forest department of Bangladesh for the tourist to watch the natural beauty of the Haor. From the Watch Tower all travelers can see the Haor (lake) surface area by the bird eyes. It is easy to see the unique natural shallow lake beauty from the watch tower. Besides seeing the beauty of the Lake, the travelers also anchored their boat to swim in the Haor. After that, the boat started moving onto Niladri Lake. During this trip all travelers got engaged in different activities. Some of them were reading books, some were chatting, and some were singing different Bangla folk song.

Members enjoying Haor natural beauty

This journey by boat is an experience that combines excitement, adventure, and relaxation in this group. The sound of the water splashing against the hull and the gentle swaying of the boat provides calming and relaxing moments to all travelers. This boat offers a unique perspective on the Tanguar Haor, allowing all members to see landscapes from a different angle and get up close and personal with nature. During the Tanguar Haor trip our boat stop at quaint villages and local markets along the way, savoring the local cuisine and see the villager’s way of life. This trip by boat covers careful planning and preparation. Before this trip Birisiri YMCA management team studied the weather and water conditions, as well as any potential threats, so all travelers wear life jackets and communication devices, to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. The journey lasted for about almost six hours and we return to our destination before the sunset.

As most of the members agreed, this journey by boat to explore the Tanguar Haor might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is filled with adventure, beauty, and the relaxation from the Covid pandemic period. It is an unforgettable experience.

Biplob Rangsa

Executive Secretary for Programme

NCYB

Prepared date: 28 August, 2023