Forest Department to get back 4,856 hectares of land in Cox's Bazar, Advisor Rizwana says

Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said about 4,856 hectares of land in Cox's Bazar allocated to different agencies is being returned to the Forest Department.

She said, "Rivers, forests and beaches in Cox's Bazar will be cleared of encroachment and pollution. No construction will be allowed in the Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) without approval.

“No government or private construction will be considered without approval from the Department of Environment, Forest Department, and the district administration.”

She made the remarks following her visit to the municipal garbage dumping site on the banks of the Bakkhali River on Thursday.

Rizwana said, "Any violation of regulations will be dealt with legally.

"If we do not immediately curb the encroachment and pollution of the beach, it will soon turn into private property. It won’t be allowed to happen.”

The allotment of 283 hectares of forestland for a training academy for government officials next to Cox's Bazar sea beach was revoked last year.

Referring to that, the advisor said: “Around 283 hectares of forestland in Cox's Bazar has already been recovered. The construction of 60 hectares of illegally occupied forestland by an individual is being halted.

“Around 8.09 hectares allocated for a football academy is being reclaimed. The deputy commissioner has been asked to recover another 20 hectares of land after taking charge.

“Efforts are underway to return the land allocated to BEZA on Sonadia Island to the Forest Department.”

Meanwhile, Shipping Advisor M Sakhawat Hussain said whatever action needs to be taken to free Bakkhali from encroachment will be done.

"It would be better if those who have taken over clear out themselves. Then there will be no damage. Except where there is a stay order from the court, the rest will be made encroachment-free. There's no question about it."

More than 1,000 illicit structures have been built by encroaching on the area belonging to the Bakkhali River in Cox's Bazar and destroying the Parabons. On several occasions, the district administration carried out raids and evicted some establishments, but efforts stepped up after the political changeover. Kastura Ghat, once the leading commerce centre of Cox's Bazar, has now turned into a residential area.

Commenting that a river port could not be built in Cox's Bazar due to encroachment, he said: "The local administration has been told that the eviction will start after demarcating the river. We need a river first to make a river port."

He said the eviction drive will begin in the next couple of days.