Initially Nijhum Dwip or Nijhum Island
was known as Char Osman, after the name of a brave settler Osman who
established the first settlement with his buffalo & cattle. Later
the government’s high officials have changed that name. But still in
documents, the island is known as Char Osman. This island is an ideal
place for tourists, especially during the winter.
A cluster of islands (mainly, Ballar
Char, Kamlar Char, Char Osman and Char Muri) emerged in the early 1950s
as an alluvium in the shallow estuary of the Bay of Bengal on the south
of Noakhali. These new sandbanks first drew the notice of a group of
fishermen, who named it Baular Char (literally, the alluvium of sand)
later transformed into Ballar Char. Occupying an area of 14,050 acres
the island situated between 21 0 1 / to 22 0 6 /north latitude and 90 0 3
/ to 91 0 4 / east longitude.
Migratory Birds in Nijhum Dwip:
During winter, thousands of migratory birds flock in to island. The
fishermen use the airy and sunny land as an ideal place for drying their
catches from the sea. Sometimes many of them also construct straw huts
on the island as seasonal residences.
In 1974 the Forest Department took an
afforestation program for a duration of twenty years in the north side
of the island. Covering an area of nine thousand acres, it has now
developed into a deep forest with a variety of plant species. Among the
trees Keora is much seen. Besides this Gewa, Kankra, Bain, Babul,
Karamja, Pashur and many other species are seen.
On 8 April 2001 the government declared
the 40390 acres of forest of Jahajmara range including 9550 acres of
forest land on Nijhum Dwip as a National Park for the protection and
development of the biodiversity of the forest. But in practice, there a
very lazy appearance of that declaration.
It was named ‘Nijhum Dwip’ by former Minister Amirul Islam Kalam in 1979 observing its isolation and mild nature.
The Opportunity of Deer watching if you stay at Nijhum Resort: At
very early morning, a deer which was survived a flood in Nijhum resort
area; comes at Nijhum resort everyday.You can feed it with your own
hand.
Things To Do:
- You can buy dry fish from local people.
- Enjoy this one of the most beautiful and popular island in our country.
Travel Tips:
- Do not leave any trace that you were there. Just return back silently, without disturbing the nature and the inhabitants of the island.
- Rivers around that part of the country have immense tide. So think again before having a swim on river.
- Act politely with locals. Do not get irritated by their continuum queries. Because it’s you who went there, not they.
Source: http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/nijhum-dip/
