The Bangladesh Export Zone Authority (BEZA) plans to build an ambitious nature tourism project on Sonadia island of Cox’s Bazar. In order to implement the project, 1,762 people in 315 households must first be relocated.
The residents of the island are set to be relocated across the Maheshkhali channel to Kutubjom union, on the banks of the Ghatibhanga river. The government insists that they will be given all kinds of amenities and opportunities to earn a living, but not all the islanders are convinced.
On a visit to the rehabilitation site last December, this correspondent saw that the land was in the process of being prepared. Electricity lines had already been set up.
Sonadia island of Cox’s Bazar Dhaka TribuneAsheq Ullah Rafiq, lawmaker from Cox's Bazar 2, could not be reached for comment.
There have also been questions regarding this project because on September 20, a plan to build a deep seaport was scrapped due to environmental concerns.
Md Mahbubur Rahman, a deputy secretary of BEZA and project director of the rehabilitation program, said: “We will ensure availability of all civic amenities at the rehabilitation site. The people of Sonadia are largely dependent on dry fish cultivation in the west zone, and the rehabilitation site is also a fishing area.”
He added that the islanders could continue dried fish production at the rehabilitation site, and there will also be opportunities in construction when work on the Sonadia Eco Park begins.
“There will be opportunities for locals to find work even after the project is completed, as the park will be in need of hospitality staff,” the official further said.
However, residents of the island said they were in the dark over their future as BEZA had not communicated with them. Many of the islanders are also reluctant to leave as they have lived there for generations.
Dhaka TribuneEkram Miah, member of Sonadia Union, said: “People from BEZA did not communicate with us over what they are going to do here even once. We are a poor community; there are no hospitals on the entire island and children on the east side are deprived of education as the nearest school is 3km away. They [the government] never helped us in our time of need, and now they just want to throw us away.”
When asked if they would be willing to move to an area with better facilities, he said: “We want development, that is for sure, but our livelihoods and wellbeing have to be ensured first. Otherwise, we will protest and die here while protecting our land.”
The Tk16.95 billon project aims to transform the entire island into a major tourist attraction and foreign direct investment hub by 2030.
According to the master plan, only 3% of the island will be designated for tourism activities. However, BEZA plans to also conserve and restore the rich biodiversity of the rest of Sonadia Island.
Claims and counterclaims
Locals claim the government is motivated only by profit and their efforts to protect the island’s biodiversity is merely an eyewash.
When told of a claim by BEZA that it had planted 500,000 trees on the island over the past three years, Ekram Miah scoffed and said: “500,000? They have planted a few trees, but nowhere close to that many. Furthermore, most of the trees are struggling to survive due to lack of maintenance.”
On the other hand, a BEZA official on condition of anonymity said locals were to blame for any damage to the island’s biodiversity and the authority had made significant improvements after acquiring the land in 2017.
The official alleged the islanders were involved in illegal logging, shrimp cultivation, and cattle grazing, even though Sonadia Island is classed as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).
“The locals are the main criminals hampering the conservation of biodiversity. That is why they need to be moved,” he added, claiming BEZA had brought a stop to the illegal activities.
Sonadia island of Cox’s Bazar Dhaka TribuneEnvironmentalists call for project to be moved
Environmentalists have urged the government to select a different area for the Eco Park, as heavy construction and an influx of tourists is highly likely to adversely affect the island’s biodiversity despite the best intentions of the project authorities.
Sonadia Island is home to some of the rarest creatures on earth, including the Olive Ridley sea turtle, horseshoe crab, and spoon-billed sandpiper. In addition, the waters in and around the island are feeding grounds for a number of globally threatened marine mammals, such as the Irrawaddy and Bottlenose dolphins.
Mostafa Feroz, professor of Zoology of Jahangirnagar University, said he did not see a single dolphin on a recent visit to the island.
“We recorded pink dolphins in 2019. During the Covid lockdown, those dolphins went all the way to Cox’s Bazar. But afterwards, they were killed by fishing nets. The area that is shown as the project area is a major harbor for dolphins, and it’s just a matter of time before the dolphins vanish from this entire channel if construction begins.”
He also expressed concern over the impact of this project on migratory birds, as the island serves as a significant bird refuge for over 80 migratory species.
Mohammad Shahidullah, a local who looks after several sea turtle hatcheries on behalf of an NGO, said: “November to March is the ideal time period for turtles to lay eggs on the beach and I collect them for breeding in the hatcheries. I found only sixteen turtle eggs in January this year, which is significantly less than at the same time last year. Turtles are not coming on to the beach like before.”
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, environment lawyer and chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said: “Sonadia is still an ECA area because the High Court kept it in force after our personal interest litigation. Construction on such a critical island is completely illegal, but law and order seems to be invalid if it’s against so-called development.”
General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) Sharif Jamil said: “The government could implement such an island tourism park anywhere else, like they’re doing at Jaliardwip or Sabarang. Why couldn’t they spare Sonadia?”
BEZA Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun said only a limited number of tourists would be allowed each day to minimize any environmental impact.
When asked about the construction of high-rises and hotels on the island’s shoreline, he said: “Night stays on the island will be permitted, but later. First, we will focus on educating people about how to behave in an eco-friendly tourism area.”
