Environmental Group Demands Immediate Halt to Road Construction on Coxs Bazar Beach Dunes
Photo Collected
DHAKA — The Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), a leading environmental advocacy group, has demanded an immediate halt to the construction of a road on the sand dunes of Cox’s Bazar beach. The organization alleges that the project violates national environmental protection laws and defies existing High Court directives.
The protest took place Friday morning in front of the Joyita Tower in the Dhanmondi area of the capital. Speakers at the rally included BAPA Vice President Zakir Hossain, executive member and urban planner Iqbal Habib, Organizing Secretary Mihir Biswas, Cox’s Bazar district chapter President M. Jafar Alam Didar, General Secretary Karim Ullah Kalim, and Bangladesh Jubo Union President Asaduzzaman Khan.
Addressing the assembly, Zakir Hossain stated that the Cox’s Bazar coastline is a national natural resource belonging to the public and future generations, rather than any private entity. He warned that unplanned development, illegal land grabbing, and the destruction of dunes pose a severe threat to the ecological integrity of the region.
Urban planner Iqbal Habib cautioned that recent natural disasters underscore the dangers of tampering with natural landscapes. He asserted that building roads on sand is not only prohibitively expensive but also suggests the influence of vested commercial interests.
M. Jafar Alam Didar emphasized that sand dunes serve as a critical natural defense against cyclones, tidal surges, and high-energy waves. He further noted that the dunes provide essential habitats for marine life, including crabs and nesting sea turtles. According to environmentalists, the construction of the road threatens to accelerate coastal erosion and irrevocably damage the local biodiversity.
Mihir Biswas echoed these concerns, calling for strict legal action against the individuals and organizations responsible for the project. He highlighted the importance of the dunes as a vital breeding ground for marine species.
Following the protest, the organization issued a seven-point list of demands. These include the immediate cessation of the road construction, the rigorous enforcement of High Court ruling 226/2011, the eviction of illegal structures, and the implementation of mandatory environmental impact assessments for any future projects on the dunes. Furthermore, the group urged authorities to protect coastal biodiversity, prosecute environmental offenders, and halt the illegal leveling of hills in the Cox’s Bazar region.
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