Md. Sahidul Islam (Sumon) : The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), comprising Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban, is much more than a landscape of hills, forests, lakes, waterfalls and clouds. It is one of Bangladesh’s most distinctive ecological and economic zones, endowed with natural resources and cultural diversity that could contribute significantly to employment, tourism, agricultural diversification and green growth.

Yet, despite its enormous potential, the CHT remains underdeveloped relative to its resource base. The challenge is not simply to attract more tourists or increase resource extraction. It is to develop a model that reconciles economic opportunity with environmental protection, local participation, social stability and long-term sustainability.

Bangladesh’s economic priorities are changing. The country needs new sources of employment, export diversification, foreign exchange earnings and regional development while simultaneously confronting climate change and environmental degradation. In this context, the CHT could emerge as an important hub of the green economy—provided development is planned rather than driven by short-term commercial interests.

Agriculture should be one of the pillars of such a strategy. Alongside traditional shifting cultivation, farmers in the hills are increasingly producing pineapple, banana, papaya, jackfruit, mango, citrus fruits, cashew nuts, coffee, dragon fruit, ginger, turmeric and chilli. Coffee and cashew, in particular, offer opportunities for value-added production and agro-processing.

But increasing production alone will not transform the rural economy. Farmers need quality seedlings, soil-based crop planning, extension services, irrigation where appropriate, storage facilities, processing centres and reliable market access. Transportation costs are often high in remote areas, while the absence of adequate cold storage forces farmers to sell perishable products quickly, often at low prices.

A network of collection centres, cold chains, packaging facilities and agro-processing units close to production areas could significantly reduce post-harvest losses. A distinctive branding strategy for hill-grown products could also connect local producers with urban and international markets. The objective should be to move from selling raw agricultural products to developing a value chain in which farmers, processors, traders and local entrepreneurs all benefit.

Forests represent another critical asset. The forests of the CHT are not merely sources of timber and bamboo; they are essential natural infrastructure for water retention, soil protectionand biodiversity and climate resilience. Any economic strategy must therefore treat forests as ecological capital.

Sustainable forestry, bamboo and cane-based industries, non-timber forest products, medicinal plants and community-based conservation could generate income without undermining the ecological foundations of the region. Small and medium enterprises built around sustainably harvested resources could create local employment while strengthening incentives for conservation.

The energy sector also deserves greater attention. The Kaptai hydropower project has long contributed to Bangladesh’s electricity supply. The region’s terrain, waterways and solar potential also create opportunities for carefully assessed small-scale renewable energy projects. In remote communities, decentralised solar systems, micro-grids and other appropriate technologies could improve access to electricity.

However, energy development in ecologically sensitive areas must be preceded by rigorous environmental and social assessments. Economic feasibility cannot be the sole criterion for approving infrastructure projects in the hills.

Mineral resources, often discussed in connection with the CHT, require an equally cautious approach. Geological surveys, environmental impact assessments, economic feasibility studies and analysis of local livelihood implications should precede any decision on extraction. Short-term gains from resource exploitation cannot justify long-term damage to forests, water systems and communities.

Tourism, meanwhile, may offer the most immediate opportunity for economic diversification. Rangamati’s Kaptai Lake and Hanging Bridge, Khagrachari’s Alutila and Richhang Falls, Sajek Valley, and Bandarban’s Nilgiri, Nilachal, Boga Lake and Nafakhum already attract large numbers of visitors. But treating these locations as isolated destinations limits their economic potential.

What is needed is an integrated “Hill, Lake and Culture” tourism circuit connecting the three hill districts through coordinated infrastructure, marketing and visitor services. Such an approach could encourage longer stays, increase local spending and create a wider network of tourism-related businesses.

The cultural diversity of the CHT is equally valuable. The traditions, food, clothing, festivals, crafts and lifestyles of communities including the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Bawm, Mro, Khumi and Khyang offer opportunities for cultural and community-based tourism. Homestays, local food experiences, handicraft markets, cultural festivals and village tourism could allow visitors to experience the region beyond conventional sightseeing.

Adventure tourism also has significant potential. Trekking, kayaking, camping, caving and other nature-based activities could attract younger domestic and international travellers. But adventure tourism must be supported by trained guides, weather monitoring, emergency medical services, rescue capacity and clearly defined safety protocols. Tourism growth without safety infrastructure would create unnecessary risks for both visitors and local communities.

Perhaps the most important question, however, is who benefits from this economic expansion.

Local communities must be participants—not merely spectators—in the tourism and development economy. Young people can be trained as guides, hospitality workers, entrepreneurs, digital marketers and adventure-sports professionals. Access to affordable finance could help local families establish homestays, restaurants, handicraft businesses and small tourism enterprises.

Such participation would ensure that a greater share of tourism revenue remains within the local economy. It could also reduce dependence on outside operators and create incentives for communities to protect the natural and cultural assets on which tourism depends.

At the same time, no economic strategy for the CHT can ignore security, social trust and unresolved disputes over land and resources. Political and institutional stability is essential for investment and tourism. Strengthening the rule of law, improving public administration, maintaining dialogue and building trust among communities are therefore economic imperatives as much as governance priorities.

Environmental sustainability must remain at the centre of the development model. Hill cutting, deforestation, unmanaged waste, plastic pollution, disruption of natural waterways and unplanned resort construction could ultimately undermine the very attractions that bring visitors to the region.

The principle should therefore shift from “more tourists, more revenue” to “more sustainable tourismand more durable revenue”. Tourism destinations should have defined carrying capacities, proper waste-management systems and environmentally responsible construction standards.

Connectivity is another prerequisite. Better roads remain important, but digital connectivity is increasingly just as critical. Reliable mobile networks, high-speed internet, digital payments, online booking platforms and tourism information services could connect remote communities to national and international markets. Early-warning systems for landslides, flash floods and extreme rainfall should also be integrated into tourism and infrastructure planning.

Ultimately, the CHT needs a long-term, integrated economic master plan that brings agriculture, tourism, environmental conservation, energy, infrastructure, small industries, handicrafts, human-capital development and the digital economy within a common framework.

The region should not be viewed merely as a peripheral destination or a collection of natural attractions. It is an integral part of Bangladesh’s economic, ecological and cultural future. Development in the hills should not seek to conquer nature but to coexist with it.

If investment, environmental responsibility, local participation, security and good governance can be brought together, the CHT could become much more than a tourism destination. It could emerge as a model of green economic development—where agriculture creates value, tourism creates jobs, culture creates opportunity, and conservation becomes an economic asset rather than an obstacle.

The hills have already given Bangladesh an extraordinary natural and cultural inheritance. The task now is to ensure that development does not consume that inheritance. The real measure of success will be whether future generations inherit a Chittagong Hill Tracts that is not only more prosperous, but also more peaceful, inclusive and ecologically resilient.

Md. Sahidul Islam (Sumon) is an economic analyst, columnist, and CHT Affairs Researcher. Email: [msislam.sumon@gmail.com]