Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday visited Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox's Bazar during his daylong tour of the district.
The Prime Minister arrived at the safari park at around 2:00pm after inaugurating the re-excavation of the historic Patali Canal in Pmkhali Union.
His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, accompanied him during the visit.
The Prime Minister and his wife toured various sections of the park with keen interest, observing its facilities, wildlife habitats and conservation activities.
Earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman drove himself from Cox's Bazar Airport to Patali Canal re-excavation programme venue.
After completing the canal re-excavation programme, the Prime Minister again took the wheel and drove to Dulahazara Safari Park.
Thousands of local residents and BNP leaders and activists lined both sides of the roads throughout the journey, greeting the Prime Minister with flower petals, waving hands and chanting slogans.
Although Cox's Bazar is best known for its sea beach, Dulahazara Safari Park remains one of the district’s major tourist attractions and is widely regarded as the country’s first safari park.
Located in Dulahazara under Chakaria Upazila, the park is about 107 kilometres from Chattogram city and around 47 kilometres from Cox's Bazar town.
The safari park evolved from a deer breeding centre established by the Forest Department during the 1980-81 fiscal year on 42.5 hectares of forest land. The government later expanded the project and developed it into Bangladesh’s first safari park.
The park now hosts hundreds of animals roaming in a natural environment surrounded by hills, forests and water bodies, making it a popular destination for tourists, wildlife enthusiasts and researchers.
END/UNB/ASA
