Ratargul Swamp Forest

Ratargul Swamp Forest is a freshwater swamp forest located in Gowain River, Fatehpur Union, Gowainghat, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Ratargul was once thought to be the only swamp forest in Bangladesh, and one of the few freshwater swamp forests in the world. Later, more swamp forests namely Jugırkandi Mayabon, Bujır Bon and Lokkhi Baor swamp forest were discovered in Bangladesh The forest is naturally conserved under the Department of Forestry, Government of Bangladesh

Its area is 3, 325.61 acre including 504 acre declared as the animal sanctuary in 2015 It is known as the Sundarbans of Sylhet. This only swamp forest in Bangladesh is located 26 kilometres (16 mi) far from Sylhet The forest’s name comes from the word, “Rata” or “Pati” tree, used by the locals of Sylhet.

The evergreen forest is situated by the river Goain and linked with the channel Chenger Khal. Most of the trees growing here are the Dalbergia reniformis (Koroch tree). The forest is submerged under 20-30 feet water in the rainy season For the rest of the year, the water level is about 10 feet deep.