TIB urges review of Japan-backed Cox's Bazar beach project over ecological concerns

Highlights:

• TIB warns project could damage coastal ecosystem
• JICA-funded initiative involves road, protection embankment
• Sand dunes and vegetation may be disrupted
• Watchdog questions environmental and climate risk assessment

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for a review of a Bangladesh-Japan joint initiative involving sand filling at Sugandha-Kolatoli Beach in Cox's Bazar, warning that the project could damage a sensitive coastal ecosystem.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded project involves construction of a road and town protection embankment in an area designated as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), TIB said in a press release today (30 August).

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said development infrastructure is necessary, but the project could damage natural sand dunes, coastal vegetation and biodiversity, disrupt natural drainage and weaken the area's long-term resilience to climate change.

He said sand dunes and coastal vegetation act as natural barriers against storms, tidal surges, waves and coastal erosion.

"Implementing a development project by disrupting the natural functioning of an important coastal ecosystem cannot, in any way, be considered consistent with sustainable development," he said.

TIB also questioned whether the project's long-term climate and environmental risks had been properly assessed before construction began.

The organisation urged JICA and the relevant authorities to transparently establish whether the environmental and social safeguards required for projects in sensitive areas had been followed.

According to TIB, JICA's Environmental and Social Considerations Guidelines require project proponents to avoid or minimise environmental and social harm, consider alternatives, conduct environmental impact assessments, disclose relevant information and ensure meaningful stakeholder participation.

The watchdog said the issue goes beyond the environmental impact of a single infrastructure project and raises questions about the implementation of climate and biodiversity commitments made by both Bangladesh and Japan.

Both countries are parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and have committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, TIB said.

It also pointed to Japan's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which sets a goal of establishing a "nature-positive" economy-based society by 2030.

Japan has also committed to aligning its development cooperation with the goals of the Paris Agreement, while JICA's environmental and sustainability policies call for project implementation to align with the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement objectives, TIB said.

Against this backdrop, TIB questioned how the Japanese government's and JICA's environmental commitments are being applied at the project level.

The organisation called on JICA and the Japanese government to ensure compliance with their environmental safeguard policies, publicly disclose information on the project's environmental and social impacts, and conduct an independent and impartial environmental and technical review.

TIB also urged the authorities to reconsider the project and adopt a credible environmental rehabilitation and restoration plan, including restoring beach sand dunes and coastal vegetation if any damage has already occurred at the site.