Baikka Beel Wetland Sanctuary
A protected wetland on Hail Haor where thousands of ducks and waterbirds gather every winter.
Baikka Beel is a permanent wetland sanctuary on the edge of Hail Haor, between Sreemangal and Moulvibazar, set aside in 2003 to protect fish stocks and the birds that rely on them. Its roughly 170 hectares of open water, reed beds and lotus have made it one of the easiest places in Bangladesh to watch waterbirds up close.
From November to February thousands of migratory ducks join resident herons, cormorants, jacanas and purple swamphens, and birds of prey such as fish eagles patrol overhead. A watchtower beside the water gives a good vantage point. Early morning and late afternoon bring the softest light and the most activity, so it pays to set out from Sreemangal before sunrise.
How to go
From Sreemangal hire a CNG to Baikka Beel along the Moulvibazar road (≈45 min; 800-1,200 BDT round trip with waiting). The last stretch is a rough village road.
Where to stay
Stay in Sreemangal (1,000-15,000 BDT and up, from simple hotels to tea resorts).
