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Singra National Park

Singra National Park
Map showing the location of Singra National Park
Map showing the location of Singra National Park
Location in Bangladesh
LocationDinajpur, Rangpur Division, Bangladesh
Nearest cityBirganj
Coordinates25°53′24″N 88°33′47″E / 25.8901°N 88.5631°E / 25.8901; 88.5631
Area305.69 hectares
Established2011

Singra National Park is a protected forest located in the northern region of Bangladesh, within the Dinajpur district.[1] Locally, it is known as Singra Sal Forest. The park is situated in Bhognagar Union, about 40 km north of Dinajpur town by road, and 15 km from Birganj Upazila. The total forest area is 355 hectares, with 305.69 hectares designated as the national park (for conservation). Singra National Park spans across four administrative villages: Dalagram, Chaulia, Singra, and Nortnadi. On 10 October 2010, the Forest Department declared it a national park to promote environmental development, wildlife conservation, and tourism.[2][3][4]

The Nort River flows through the middle of Singra National Park. For tourists, a small rest house and two picnic spots are available. During winter, the number of visitors increases significantly. To conserve the biodiversity of Singra Sal Forest, a co-management committee—made up of local representatives and supported by RDRS Bangladesh—is actively working here.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

History

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The Singra forest was first designated as government land in 1885. After Bangladesh's independence, a government gazette in 1974 brought the forest under the Forest Department. Later, on 10 October 2010, it was declared a national park along with three other forests in northern Bangladesh. The protected area was named Singra National Park after the Singra administrative region. Locally, it is also called Singra Sal Forest.[11]

Flora and fauna

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Flora

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Singra National Park is mainly dominated by deciduous sal trees. Besides sal, there are also jarul, tarul, shilkari, Shimul, minjiri, teak, gamar, akashmoni, ghoranim, sonalu, gutijam, haritaki, bayra, amloki, and various other unnamed plants and vines.[12][13]

Mammals

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Once, this forest was home to tigers, nilgai, and many other wild animals. However, due to deforestation and increasing population pressure, much of the wildlife has disappeared. Currently, animals like rabbit, fox, snake, and mongoose can still be seen, along with various species of birds and insects.[14]

Birds

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Birds such as vultures, local shoomcha, harichacha, bronzed drongo, blue-throated barbet, great tit, barn owl, meg hao kingfisher, Eurasian collared dove, spotted dove, woodpecker, benebou, bulbul, tailorbird, and long-tailed nightjar can now be seen here.[15][16][17]

References

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  1. ^ Hossain, Syed Zakir. "A walk in the Singra National Park". The Business Standard. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  2. ^ উত্তরাঞ্চলে ৪টি এলাকায় জাতীয় উদ্যান ঘোষণা. Dainik Juger Katha (in Bengali). 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29.
  3. ^ "Annual Report 2018-19" (PDF). Forest Department. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Annual Report 2017-18" (PDF). Forest Department. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Protected Areas of Bangladesh: National Parks". Bangladesh Forest Department. Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  6. ^ "List of National Parks in Bangladesh" (in Bengali). Bangladesh Forest Department. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Singra National Park". Banglapedia.
  8. ^ নাটোরের সিংড়া জাতীয় উদ্যানের জীববৈচিত্র্য ও সংকট [Biodiversity and Crisis of Singra National Park, Natore]. Jugantor (in Bengali). 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  9. ^ Forest Department (2023). "Biodiversity Conservation in Bangabandhu Natural Park and National Parks" (in Bengali). Bangladesh Forest Department. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  10. ^ IUCN Bangladesh (2015). Protected Areas of Bangladesh: A Guide to Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks (PDF). IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  11. ^ "List of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Eco-Parks" (in Bengali). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  12. ^ 'তৃণমূল নির্বাচনে বিজয়ীরাই আগামীতে জয়লাভ করবেন' [Singra National Park, Natore: Nature's Abode under the Trees]. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  13. ^ Md. Anowar Hossain; et al. (2014). "Assessment of Floristic Diversity in Singra National Park, Bangladesh". Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy. 21 (1): 61–70. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  14. ^ পর্যটনের অপার সম্ভাবনা দিনাজপুর সিংড়া ফরেস্ট. uttorbangla.com (in Bengali). 9 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29.
  15. ^ ""Singra National Park"–A Vibrant Green Invitation". Birganj Upazila Information Portal. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  16. ^ "Singra National Park: Wildlife Habitat in Natore Faces Threat". The Daily Star. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  17. ^ Md. Shafiqul Islam (2022-11-29). "Singra National Park in Natore: Nature Calls for Forest Visit". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-07-20.