HC halts Beza’s land allocation for eco-tourism park in Sonadia

The High Court has halted the allocation of 9,467 acres on Sonadia Island of Moheshkhali, Cox's Bazar to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) for the establishment of an eco-tourism park. 

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury issued the ruling today, after hearing a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).

Assistant Attorney General Mujahidul Islam Shaheen represented the state during the hearing. 

The Cox's Bazar district administration had given a long-term lease of the land to Beza for a token payment of Tk1,001 during the previous government's regime. 

According to BELA, the allocation was intended to facilitate the construction of the country's largest eco-tourism park, which Beza claims will boost the tourism industry and contribute to the national economy. 

However, former Beza executive chairman Paban Chowdhury had previously noted that the park's development would be supported by a master plan designed by Mahindra Engineering, an Indian consultancy firm. 

Although the island was once first considered for a deep-sea port, plans shifted towards transforming it into an economic zone through eco-tourism initiatives. 

But, as per the Environment Conservation Act of 1995, any activities adversely impacting the island's ecological balance are prohibited. 

The allocation at such a nominal price has raised concerns about potential violations of environmental laws and the exclusion of local communities in development planning. 

The former BEZA chief had earlier said that the final details of Sonadia's long-term tourism development would become clear once the master plan was completed.