Sprawling untidy set-ups a nuisance for Kuakata tourists
Over 200 congested structures built near Zero Point of Kuakata sea beach badly affects natural beauty of the famous tourist spot, in addition to impeding free movement of visitors.
Md Shahjalal, owner of ‘Hotel Sunrise’ in Kuakata, has reportedly built the tin-shed structures during the ongoing tourist season and rented them to small traders who are running cheap eateries, tea stalls and handicraft shops, there.
Those were rented for Tk 20,000 to Tk 50,000 each for using from November to April when a large number of people from home and abroad come to the picturesque beach area.
“The wood and tin structures, built on the sandy beach on wooden pillars, are very risky. The sheds could be blown away by a strong wind any time,” said Salim Hawlader, who rented a stall to set up a restaurant that serves dishes mostly of sea fish.
“The illegal structures spoil the beauty of the area, threatens the natural environment and cause a nuisance for the tourists,” said a local, seeking anonymity.
Md Jasim Uddin, a tourist from Patuakhali town, said they face problems while walking on the beach due to the untidy structures.
Contacted, Shahjalal said, “I and eight others bought a total of 7.15 acres of land from locals during 1996 to 2006. I started building the tin-shed structures after taking permission from the court, and a case filed in 2017 is pending with Patuakhali District Judge’s Court to settle ownership of the land.”
Kuakata municipality Mayor Abdul Bareq Molla said he has informed the higher authorities about the matter.
Patuakhali Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Md Mamunur Rashid said, “We couldn’t take steps for removing these structures as a case is pending with the court.”
On June 2 in 2011, the High Court (HC) issued a directive, asking the authorities concerned to immediately remove all illegal structures from the Kuakata sea beach and take necessary steps to stop encroachment, earth filling and construction of structures on the beach.
The directive came after a writ petition was filed the same day by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) on the basis of a report headlined “Realtor faces eviction case in Kuakata”, published in The Daily Star on June 1.
The HC also ordered the deputy commissioner of Patuakhali to have Kuakata sea beach area demarcated by forming a special committee.
On January 18 in 2012, a HC bench declared the construction of private structures on sea beaches and shores illegal and directed the government to draw up a master plan to turn Kuakata sea beach into an ideal tourist destination.
Following the court directive, Patuakhali district administration removed a good number of structures from the beach but later a few people including Shahjalal filed cases, claiming ownership of lands in the area, locals said.
Some unscrupulous people also built new structures there, they added.