Sunamganj is the land of water and moonlight. It is physically defined by the Haor basin, a bowl-shaped depression that stays underwater for almost half the year. During the monsoon, Sunamganj transforms into a vast inland sea. Villages become islands, and the only mode of transport is the boat. This unique geography has shaped the lifestyle, the culture, and the very soul of the people here. The jewel of this district is Tanguar Haor. It is a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance. Spending a night on a boat in the middle of Tanguar Haor is a bucket-list experience. The silence is absolute, broken only by the splashing of fish or the call of migratory birds. The water is so clear in places that you can see the aquatic plants swaying beneath the surface like a submerged forest.
This district is also the cultural heartland of mystic folk music. It is the home of Hason Raja and Shah Abdul Karim, the bards who wrote songs that every Bangladeshi knows by heart. Their music, known as Baul and Bhatiali, was born from the rhythm of the boatman’s oar and the vast emptiness of the haors. You can feel the melancholy and the devotion in the air. Another stunning spot is the Shimul Bagan, a massive garden of red silk-cotton trees. When they bloom in the spring, the whole landscape turns a fiery red, creating a contrast with the blue water and the distant Meghalaya hills of India that is photographer's dream. The Jadukata River, which flows down from the hills, offers water so blue it looks dyed. Life here is hard, as flash floods often destroy crops, but the resilience of the people is inspiring. They have adapted to a life that is half land and half water, creating a culture that is fluid, poetic, and incredibly hospitable.