Barguna is the deep south, the end of the line. It sits on the coast, facing the Bay of Bengal, and is crisscrossed by the Bishkhali and Payra rivers. It is a district of wide rivers and heavy silence. One of the main attractions here is the Fatrar Char. This is essentially an extension of the Sundarbans mangrove forest. You can take a trawler from the town to this forest island. It is wild and less regulated than the main Sundarbans, offering a raw nature experience where you can see monkeys, monitor lizards, and deer. The Haringhata Forest is another eco-tourism spot. A boardwalk allows you to walk deep into the forest to the beach where the river meets the sea. It is a popular spot for lovers and nature enthusiasts.
Barguna is famous for its boat-building industry, particularly in Taltoli. Here, massive sea-going fishing trawlers are built by hand. These are not small boats; they are huge wooden ships designed to stay in the deep sea for weeks. Seeing the skeletons of these ships rising on the riverbanks is an impressive sight. The district is also home to the Rakhine community in Taltoli. They have a centuries-old Buddhist temple and a market where they weave and sell distinct textiles. The Bibichini Shahi Mosque in Betagi is a major historical site. Perched on a rare hillock in this flat land, this 17th-century mosque offers panoramic views of the surrounding paddy fields.
Life in Barguna is tough. It is frequently in the path of cyclones. Sidr, one of the most devastating cyclones in history, made landfall near here, and the scars are still visible in the landscape and the memories of the people. Yet, the resilience is undeniable. The people rebuild, replant, and go back to the sea. The food here is spicy and fish-centric. The Shutki (dried fish) of Barguna is pungent and flavorful. Barguna feels remote, a place where the delta slowly dissolves into the ocean, offering a landscape that is both beautiful and formidable.