Govt in ‘great trouble’ over Cox’s Bazar development due to one organisation: State minister
Mir Shahe Alam says writ petitions have stalled Tk128cr road project, hindered tourism development.
The government is in "great trouble" over efforts to develop Cox's Bazar because one organisation repeatedly files writ petitions in the High Court, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said today (26 September).
"Whenever the government tries to develop the tourist city of Cox's Bazar, that organisation goes to the High Court and files writ petitions to obtain injunctions," he told reporters during a visit to an integrated waste management centre at Rohingya Camp 4 in Ukhiya Upazila.
"Recently, a Tk128 crore project of my ministry to construct a connecting road from Laboni Point to the Marine Drive was halted through a writ petition. How, then, can we build a beautiful city?" he said.
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The state minister's remarks came in reference to a High Court order halting further work on a 1.6-kilometre road being constructed inside the Ecologically Critical Area, no-development zone, and protected tourism area of Cox's Bazar sea beach.
On 2 September, the court had imposed an eight-week injunction on further construction following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
The state minister said Cox's Bazar is a place of heritage and an important part of the country's identity, adding that the government is working to turn the municipality into a city corporation and develop it into an international-standard tourist destination.
He also said various conspiracies have long been underway to hinder the development of tourism in Cox's Bazar.
"Whatever the conspiracy, the government is continuing to work to turn Cox's Bazar into a developed destination," he added.
Earlier in the day, the state minister visited a World Bank-funded integrated waste management project at Rohingya Camp 2 in Ukhiya and inspected its activities.
He described the integrated waste management centre as a modern and environmentally friendly project, saying the government has various plans to expand the production of fertiliser and electricity from the waste generated at the camps.
