Administration conducts drive again as illegal shops reappear on Cox's Bazar beach, 1 detained

Authorities have once again carried out an eviction drive at Cox's Bazar Sea Beach after illegal structures were rebuilt on the sand dunes, just days after a major operation to clear the area.

The latest drive was conducted today (24 March) at the Sugandha point's Jhau forest area and the adjacent Mermaid point, where businessmen had set up makeshift establishments again.

During the operation, district administration officials demolished over a hundred illegal structures and removed them by loading the debris onto trucks. In several cases, traders dismantled their own structures before the authorities intervened.

Executive Magistrate Monju Bin Afnan confirmed the eviction of more than 100 illegal structures, stating that no establishments would be allowed on the sand dunes in the future.

Photo: TBS

One person was detained on charges of obstructing officials while they were carrying out the drive. The incident occurred after a group of traders became involved in an altercation with the executive magistrate in the Mermaid area.

Earlier, acting on directives from Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, authorities launched a five-day eviction drive starting on 12 March. During that operation, a total of 630 illegal and temporary structures were removed from the Sugandha and Kolatoli points.

On 22 March, the home minister visited the area and instructed the Tourist Police and the district administration to remain vigilant to prevent renewed encroachment.

However, within a day of the visit, traders reportedly began reinstalling structures in the same areas, prompting the authorities to conduct today's fresh drive.

Earlier, at a district law and order committee meeting on 9 March, the home minister had announced that all illegal structures along the beach would be removed within a week.