Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said no structures will be kept on the sand dunes of Cox’s Bazar beach that have been built illegally.
He said this while visiting the Sugandha Point of the Cox’s Bazar sea beach this afternoon.
He said eviction drives against floating shops and other illegal structures have already begun. Gradually, such eviction operations will be carried out across the entire coastline from Nazirartek to Teknaf, he said, adding that at the same time, genuine small traders will be rehabilitated.
Earlier, on 9 March, at a law and order meeting held in the conference room of the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office, the home minister instructed that all floating illegal structures on the beach banks be removed within one week.
In response, the administration launched eviction drives in Sugandha and Kolatoli points, removing more than 500 illegal structures. The minister visited the beach to inspect the cleared areas.
During the visit, lawmakers Lutfor Rahman Kajal and Shahjahan Chowdhury, Cox’s Bazar Zila Parishad Administrator ATM Nurul Bashar Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner Md. Abul Mannan, Superintendent of Police ANM Sajedur Rahman, and district-level leaders of BNP were present.
Due to this initiative by the home minister regarding Cox’s Bazar sea beach, the appearance of many areas has already changed significantly.
With the removal of floating shops, the sand dunes and the crashing blue waves are now visible from the road.
Tourism stakeholders say visitors are now experiencing a new look of the beach during the Eid holidays.
Cox’s Bazar Press Club President Mahbubur Rahman said that around 6-7 million tourists visit Cox’s Bazar every year, and most of them visit the beach at least once.
Tourists often express dissatisfaction after seeing slum-like makeshift shops on the dunes, which are also associated with various crimes, he said.
With these temporary structures removed, the beach has taken on a new appearance, offering tourists a refreshed experience, he said, adding pollution in the sea will decrease as a result.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Abul Mannan said following the home minister’s instructions, structures at Sugandha Point have been removed. Gradually, all structures along the 120-kilometre coastline up to Teknaf will be evicted, he said.
Earlier in the day, the home minister also attended an Eid reunion event at the alumni association of Pekua Government Model GMC Institution.
In his speech as chief guest, he said that through reforms, BNP aims to move the country forward economically by achieving excellence in training, skills, and technology. The government is working toward that goal, he added.
Salahuddin said the traditional education system of the past has created millions of unemployed people. The government will restructure the education system to produce employable, skilled citizens rather than degree-holding unemployed graduates, he said.
The minister said technical education will be made compulsory to develop skilled manpower, and the government has already begun implementing its election pledges.
As part of this, initiatives have been taken for women’s empowerment through Family Card programme, he said.
He said Farmer Card for farmers will be introduced soon, and in the first cabinet meeting after taking office, the government waived Taka 10,000 agricultural loans with interest.
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