The establishment of an eco-resort in the remote Sungsuwa Para area, a tourist spot on the border of Thanchi and Ruma upazilas in Bandarban, has created employment opportunities for the indigenous Bom community and enhanced safety for tourists and travellers.
The eco resort has been established by the Bangladesh Army as part of its efforts to promote socio-economic development among the Bom people, who were previously affected by violence carried out by the Kuki National Army.
The eco resort was inaugurated on Saturday by Brig Gen S M Raquib Ibne Rezwan, afwc, psc, of the Bandarban Region, who attended the event as the chief guest.
Rezwan said the army has been implementing various public welfare initiatives to ensure peace, security and sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and that these efforts would continue in the future. He noted that the eco resort has created direct employment opportunities for vulnerable members of the Bom community. He added that income generated from the resort would be used for education, healthcare, infrastructure development and overall social welfare of the villagers.
According to army sources, the project was implemented by the 16th Bengal Regiment, known as The Majestic Tigers, at a cost of around Tk 30 lakh, funded from the 24th Infantry Division’s own resources.
Members of the local Bom community said that in early 2023, KNA militants launched terrorist activities in the hills of Thanchi and Ruma, forcing many residents to flee their homes and take refuge in Mizoram, India, and other parts of the country for nearly two years. They said the community suffered severe hardship and displacement during that period. Following improved security due to special army operations, the displaced families have since returned to their homes.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by officers and soldiers of the 16th Bengal Regiment, the commander of the Sungshuang Para army camp, and more than 200 members of the Bom community from Sungsuwa Para.
