Houseboat operators have been asked to register their vessels by 10 August as part of an 11-point directive aimed at protecting the ecologically critical wetland.
File photo of houseboats at Sunamganj’s Tanguar Haor. Photo: Collected
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File photo of houseboats at Sunamganj’s Tanguar Haor. Photo: Collected
The Sunamganj district administration has banned the entry and operation of all houseboats and tourist vessels in the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) of Tanguar Haor and issued an 11-point directive to protect the wetland’s fragile ecosystem and biodiversity.
The directive, signed by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Minhajur Rahman and issued by the district administration’s business, trade and investment branch on 1 August, was published on the administration’s official Facebook page at around 8pm yesterday (2 August).
According to the public notice, the measures have been introduced under the Tanguar and Hakaluki Haor Protection Order, 2025 and will remain in force until further notice. Violators will face legal action.
The administration has also instructed all houseboat owners and operators to apply for registration with the deputy commissioner’s office by 10 August using the prescribed form and required documents.
No houseboat or tourist vessel will be allowed to operate without registration or official approval after the deadline, the notice said.
The directive also prohibits loud music, microphones and parties on houseboats, as well as the use of single-use plastics.
Operators have been instructed to install water purification filters, septic tanks and at least two dustbins on every houseboat. Dumping waste into the haor or any waterbody has also been banned.
The administration further limited the maximum length of houseboats to 100 feet and made it mandatory to carry sufficient life jackets, lifebuoys and fire extinguishers while ensuring the safe use of gas cylinders.
Operators must also display a code of conduct for tourists in a visible place and brief visitors before each tour.
In addition, emergency contact numbers for the district and upazila administration, police, fire service and hospitals must be displayed on board.
The notice also requires adequate waste management arrangements on every tour and prohibits tourist transport during adverse weather, including storms, heavy rainfall and lightning, while making tourist safety mandatory during such conditions.
The district administration said the order takes immediate effect and that monitoring and enforcement will be intensified to ensure the protection of Tanguar Haor.
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