Occupied and polluted in various ways, Cox's Bazar sea beach and Kohelia river in Maheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar are losing their beauty and the biodiversity is being destroyed putting the environment under threat.
Fifteen environmental and social organizations in Cox's Bazar have taken to the field demanding protection of world’s longest sea beach and Kohelia river from pollution. These environmentalists also demanded for conducting studies before taking on any development projects in the area. With these demands, they have continued to hold various programmes including mass rallies in the district.
Speakers at a human chain and rally organized by Cox's Bazar branch of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan-BAPA on the Cox's Bazar Municipality premises on Monday afternoon said that the beach which is admired all over the world is now in a dilemma. Now there is no chance of arrogantly calling it an inseparable beach.
If this continues, it won’t take long for the beach to lose the title of world’s longest sea beach. Environmentalists of those 15 organisations were present at the time.
Environmentalists complained that Cox's Bazar beach and the Kohelia River have been affected by pollution in various ways. Construction of dams in Inani area of the beach as well as dumping of shrimp hatchery and hotel wastes in the sea are adding to the pollution. In addition, the beach is being occupied by different parties including the Rohingyas by setting up temporary huts and houses.
Meanwhile, the Kohelia river is being filled up due to various occupations and a road is being constructed killing this river of Maheshkhali whereas, the livelihood of 3 to 4 thousand fisherman depended on this river. Without conducting surveys such development projects taken one after another, has become a cause of destruction for the environment, they added.
Cox’s Bazar BAPA Organizing Secretary HM Nazrul Islam said, “Development must be done to protect people as well as the environment. A public hearing should be conducted in the participation of the locals, before any project can be taken up. I demand to conduct a survey before taking up any such development projects in the area”.
Cox’s Bazar BAPA General Secretary Kalim Ullah said, “There is no country in the world which destroys its own environment and existence and arranges hospitality for its guests. So everyone should be vocal against stopping the attempt to destroy the beach in the name of hospitality and protect the Kohelia river. We will continue our protest to protect the environmental biodiversity of the area”.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, convener of Cox's Bazar Unnayan Sangram Parishad, said Rohingyas are living in makeshift huts built at the beach, defying court's ban. In addition, the pollution is also increasing due to dumping waste into the sea.
Mosaddek Farooqui, President of Maheshkhali branch of BAPA, said a dam was being built on the Kohelia river for the Matarbari coal power project. The river has been filled up for that reason. Moreover, influential people are also occupying the river by creating shrimp pens.
BAPA Cox's Bazar branch President Fazlul Quader Chowdhury said the conspiracy to divide the beach must be foiled to preserve our identity. No development project can be allowed to continue by destroying the Kohelia river. Their united programme against all this will continue, he added.
In the programme presided over by BAPA Cox's Bazar branch President Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, district BAPA Vice-President Engineer Kanan Pal, Former Councilor Rafiqul Islam, Cox's Bazar Unnayan Sangram Parishad Convener Ruhul Amin Sikder, journalist Faridul Alam Shahin and leaders of various environmental and social organizations were present.