No high rises along Cox’s Bazar coast
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the authorities concerned not to build high-rise establishments along the sea in Cox's Bazar.
"We will not allow construction of high-rise structures along the sea as it will harm the natural beauty of Cox's Bazar," she said.
Speaking at a programme at her office in the capital, Hasina said tourism parks should be developed without spoiling the natural beauty of the region.
The programme was orgranised to present the master plans of three special tourism parks, to be built in Cox's Bazar, before the PM.
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has been tasked with setting up the Sonadia Eco-Tourism Park in Moheshkhali upazila and NAF and Sabrang Tourism Parks in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar.
The aim of the master plans is to develop tourism-friendly zones protecting ecological balance and biodiversity, national heritage, culture, and tradition.
Hasina directed the authorities concerned to set up structures in the tourism parks by ensuring that those would be tolerant to disasters such as earthquake, cyclone, and tidal surge.
Describing the Cox's Bazar sea beach as the world's longest sandy sea beach, she said the 80-mile sea beach is one of the most beautiful tourist spots of the world.
The PM advised the authorities to develop the Sabrang Tourism Park as a "dedicated tourist site" for foreigners.
She also instructed them to ensure all necessary facilities maintaining international standards so that foreign tourists could be attracted to the region to witness natural beauties.
Hasina also gave the authorities concerned necessary guidelines to ensure various facilities in the three tourism parks.
The consultancy firm which prepared the master plan for Sonadia Eco-Tourism Park assured the premier that tourists would be able to visit the park within 24 months. However, it will take nine years to give a complete shape to the park.
At the directives of the premier, the BEZA has undertaken steps to develop the tourism parks. A total of 909 acres of land out of 8,967 acres of Sonadia will be used for developing the eco-tourism park, said officials.
Earlier, BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury gave an overview of the three master plans. The plans would be finalised within a month as per the PM's latest guidelines, he added.
PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, were present at the programme.
Sabrang Tourism Park will be the first exclusive tourism park in Cox's Bazar district encompassing an area of 1,047 acres in Teknaf's Sabrang union. It is an amazing hill and sea beach territory with multifaceted and admirable beauty.
The Naf Tourism Park, popularly known as Jaliardwip, will be the first island based tourism park in Bangladesh encompassing an area of 271 acres.
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