Ratargul Swamp Forest

Dalbergia reniformis tree in Ratargul Swamp Forest

Ratargul Swamp Forest (Sylheti: ꠞꠣꠔꠣꠞꠉꠥꠟ ꠎꠟꠣꠛꠘ, Bengali: রাতারগুল জলাবন) is a freshwater swamp forest located in Gowain River, Fatehpur Union, Gowainghat, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Ratargul was once thought to be the only swamp forest in Bangladesh,[1][2][3] and one of the few freshwater swamp forests in the world. Later, more swamp forests namely Jugirkandi Mayabon, Bujir Bon and Lokkhi Baor swamp forest were discovered in Bangladesh.[4][5][6]

Its area is 3,325.61 acres (1,345.83 ha) including 504 acres (204 ha) declared as the animal sanctuary in 2015. It is known as the Sundarbans of Sylhet. This is second largest swamp forest in Bangladesh, located 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Sylhet.

The evergreen forest[7] is situated by the river Goain and linked with the channel Chengir Khal. Most of the trees growing here are the Dalbergia reniformis (করচ গাছ Koroch tree). The forest is submerged under 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 m) water in the rainy season. For the rest of the year, the water level is about 10 ft (3.0 m) deep.[8][9][10]

  1. ^ "রাতারগুলকে ছাড়িয়ে জুগিরকান্দি 'মায়াবন'". Somoy TV. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. ^ "বাংলাদেশের একমাত্র জলাবন রাতারগুল". Deutsche Welle . 16 July 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  3. ^ "জলাবন রাতারগুল". bdnews24.com. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ^ "মায়াবন". Prothom Alo. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  5. ^ "সিলেটে নতুন পর্যটন স্পট বুজির বন". Daily Naya Diganta. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  6. ^ "লোকচক্ষুর আড়ালে রাতারগুলের চেয়েও বড় ও প্রাচীন জলাবন লক্ষ্মীবাওর". Kaler Kantho. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  7. ^ "The land found in the haors". Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Ratargul Swamp forest – Bangladesh". Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Ratargul: Only swamp forest in Bangladesh". Daily Sun. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Ratargul swamp forest – World Tourism Day". Retrieved 12 September 2016.