Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj is now not just a tourist destination, it is a ‘self-sustaining eco-system’. One of the world’s most successful ‘eco-token’ systems was introduced here in 2026. The entry fee paid by tourists when entering here is deposited directly into the Haor Maintenance Fund through blockchain technology.
Tourist Participation: If tourists collect any plastic waste here and deposit it at a specific booth, they get an ‘eco-token’. Using this token, they can get discounts at local resorts or boats. After the introduction of this system in 2025, Tanguar Haor is now the cleanest wetland in Bangladesh.
Biodiversity and Employment: Villagers living near the haor have been appointed as ‘haor guards’ from this fund. As a result, fish theft and bird hunting have stopped. A record number of foreign migratory birds arrived in Tanguar Haor during the winter season of 2026. Local people have now realized that if the haor survives, their tourism business and lives will survive.
