Banglabandha Zero Point Panchagarh

Tentulia is the highest upazila of Bangladesh under Panchagarh district. Location of Banglabandha Zero Point and Banglabandha Land Port in Tentulia Upazila No. 1 Banglabandha Union. Banglabandha Zero Point i.e. Banglabandha Land Port was constructed on September 1, 1997 on about 10 acres of land on the Bangladesh-India border on the banks of the Mahananda River bordering the Himalayas. Bangladesh has developed economic relations with India, Nepal and Bhutan through the Banglabandha land port.

If you go to Banglabandha Zero Point, you will see a huge zero made of concrete. It can be said that it started from this zero point on the border of Bangladesh. The surroundings here are green and very clean, which is enough to make anyone happy. The national flags of both Bangladesh and India are hoisted near the Banglabandha Zero Point gate. However, one cannot enter there without permission.

The distance from Banglabandha to the city of Siliguri in India is only 7 km and the distance from Darjeeling is 58 km. The distance from Banglabandha to Nepal's Kakarvita border is only 30 km. Tourists travel Bangladesh-India-Nepal-Bhutan by road through Banglabandha Zero Point. As a result, Panchagarh district has become popular as an important tourist destination.

If you want to go directly from Dhaka to Tentulia, you can go by Hanif or Burimari Express bus. AC/Non AC bus fare is Tk 1150-1900 per person. Besides, you can go to Tetulia via Panchagarh.

Nabil Paribahan, Hanif Enterprise, Tanjila Travel, Barkat Travel can go to Panchagarh from Dhaka's Shyamoli, Gabtali Bus Terminal and Mirpur. Non AC bus fare from Dhaka to Panchagarh is Tk 1000-1100 and AC bus fare is Tk 1300-1900.

If you want to go by train, you can come to Panchagarh from Kamalapur in Dhaka by Panchagarh Express, Ekta and Hirtyan Express trains. According to the class, the train ticket fare ranges from Tk 695 to Tk 2398 per person.

Local buses ply from Panchagarh to Tentulia at regular intervals throughout the day. Bus ticket price is 50 to 60 taka per person. Banglabandha Zero Point can be reached by battery powered auto by going down to Tentulia Bazar.

There are two residential hotels in Tentulia namely Kazi Brothers Hotel and Shimandar Par. Non AC room rent in these hotels is 600-800 taka and AC double bed rent is 1000-1500 taka.

If you want to stay in Dak bungalow on Mahananda river bank, you have to take permission from Tentulia Upazila Nirbahi Officer. The rent per room of Dak bungalow is 400 taka. One can stay in forest department rest house and Dak bungalow of Zilla Parishad of Banglabandha land port subject to prior permission.

Feature Image: Monabbir Hossain