How Sonadia Island turned into a dumping yard

Sonadia is an island near Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar that is thronged by tourists around the year because of the rare species of birds, trees and vines on display.

The island, which is rich in biodiversity that has been built up over thousands of years, is in the Bay of Bengal with an area of about 10,000 acres and is separated from the city by a one-kilometre-wide channel. 

According to word of mouth, gold was once found here. A geological survey found valuable minerals, including monazite, in the sand. 

Sonadia is home to various animals and marine life, including the spoon-billed bird, a rare species worldwide. However, locals say many birds have gone extinct over the last three decades because of unabated pollution and other human interference.

Dhaka Tribune

Marine scientists say many empty and broken liquor bottles, pet bottles, plastic sandals, bags, nets and medical waste are piled up along the coast below the high tide mark. Moreover, garbage often floats to the island due to the tides and cyclones. Recently, tons of plastic waste was washed up on the island by Cyclone Sitrang on October 24. 

Scientists believe the waste is causing toxicity in the soil and disrupting soil compaction. As a result, the habitats of various beach-dwelling species are being destroyed. 

Besides, the beach's biological defence system of natural plants is being harmed. The rate of turtle egg-laying had also decreased alarmingly.

Recently, Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) Director General (Additional Secretary) Syed Mahmud Belal Haider visited Sonadia Island with a group of ecologists.

Belal Haider said severe soil pollution may occur on Sonadia Island due to the mixing of plastic in the soil. “It can also spread to the water. Again, the plastics floating to this island can turn into microplastics and mix again in the sea. Due to this kind of soil and water pollution, some animals and plants can be lost forever. 

“The world's first computer manufacturing plant in the United States was forced to close due to soil pollution,” he said.

Dhaka Tribune

In July 2020, there were two episodes of waste-flooding across the beach from Kalatali to Himchari in Cox's Bazar. At that time, dead turtles, snakes and remains of other marine species floated to the shore along with various wastes. At that time, the beach workers of the district administration and the workers of local environmental organizations cleaned the garbage from the beach, but no one showed any concern for cleaning the waste that had floated to Sonadia Island. 

Amanullah, a resident of Majhervita area of Sonadia, said that no organization works here to keep the island clean of the harmful wastes floating from the sea. Gradually, the waste materials break into small pieces and mix with the soil of the beach.

He also alleged that many influential people were cutting down the forests of the island for profit. “But there is no one to clean the waste”.

Nature Conservation Management (Nacom) District Manager Abdul Qayyum said the rate of turtle egg-laying had also decreased at an alarming rate due to environmental destruction in Sonadia. Until 2020, several species of turtles used to lay 10,000 to 12,000 eggs a year on the island. 

“Last year, this number was less than 1,000. Furthermore, turtles haven't come to lay eggs this season,” said the marine biologist.

Oceanographer Belal Haider found that more than 90% of Sonadia's biodiversity had been destroyed. He believes that this situation has been created due to the destruction of the ecosystems of various animals. 

“Planned steps can still save Sonadia and bring it back to its previous state,” he told Dhaka Tribune.