Cox's Bazar beach, the longest natural sea beach in the world with a length of 120km, is facing a severe environmental crisis.
Parts of the beach, which is the top tourist spot in Bangladesh, are littered with mountains of trash. The situation is especially dire at 20 popular beach points including: Kobita Chattar, Laboni, Shaibal, Seagull, Sea Inn and the Kolatoli intersection.
The trash is first dumped on the beach until it becomes a tall pile, and then it is burned on sand dunes and in the wooded Jhawbagan area. There are also many unsanitary toilets on and near the beach.
These toilets are primarily located in hundreds of makeshift slum dwellings in Najirar Tek, Somity Para, Boro Chhora and Reju Khal, which are home to thousands of people. The stench of burning trash and sewage is choking both locals and tourists alike.
The two main tourist spots in the city, Laboni beach point and Sugondha Sea Inn beach point, have been hit the hardest with this insurmountable amount of pollution, covering at least 0.5km of beach area.
The district administration has promised immediate action regarding this environmental issue.
‘Hard to breathe’
Tourist couple Mohammad Miraz and Sheuly, visiting Cox’s Bazar from Dinajpur, said they came in search of tranquility and a clean environment, but their trip has been marred by piles of trash on the beach and the roadside.
“It is hard to even breathe in this place,” Miraz told the Dhaka Tribune.
Many tourists echoed the same statement, pointing out that immediate intervention from the authorities concerned and people is necessary to curb pollution in a popular tourist destination such as Cox’s Bazar.
‘Cleaned regularly’
Responding to queries, Deepak Sharma Dipu, founder and president of Cox's Bazar Forest and Environment Protection Council, said: “The beach is cleaned regularly. However, there is no policy on garbage disposal on the beach, so it continues to pile up there.”
“Local businessmen burn the trash once the piles get too high. I urge the district administration to make a serious effort for resolving this ongoing situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kamrul Hasan, assistant director of Cox's Bazar Environment Department said: “I am not aware of garbage piling on the beach and the regular burning of trash. If it is true, it will pollute not only the beach, but also the nearby areas as well.”
“I will take necessary action in this regard,” he said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resources) of Cox's Bazar SM
Sarwar Kamal said: “The abovementioned points were cleaned just a few days ago. Certain culprits have been littering the beach with trash. I will take steps to clean up those points.”
“I will also raise an awareness campaign, with posters and signboards, in settlements and slums near the beach. Mobile courts will be deployed to punish people for polluting the area,” he said.
The officials added that everyone must work together to maintain a clean and healthy beach, and raise awareness about the issue.
