Leased for tourism, used in other ways
Demarcation of the Cox's Bazar sea beach by hoteliers is on ignoring its beauty, ecology and the campaign to make it one of the Seven Wonders of the World.Photo: Anisur Rahman
The government has decided to reclaim the Cox's Bazar plots, which were leased out to boost tourism but have been illegally used for other purposes, to make the beach town a modern tourist hub.
An inter-ministerial meeting yesterday formed a high-powered committee to identify the structures used illegally for purposes other than tourism in violation of the conditions of the Hotel/Motel Zone under Jhilangza mouza along the sea beach.
"The tourism secretary will head the committee, which will visit Cox's Bazar soon and submit a report in 30 workdays," Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira told newspersons after the meeting held at the conference hall of his ministry.
Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader, Land Secretary Delwar Hossain, officials from the ministries of land, tourism and public works, and Cox's Bazar district administration attended the meeting.
According to officials, over 100 plots on 150.75 acres of land in Jhilangza mouza were declared as Hotel/Motel Zone and were allotted to different individuals.
As per rules, the plots were meant for building hotels and motels in three years to boost tourism on the world's longest beach.
"But conditions of the lease were violated in case of at least 61 such plots," says a land ministry official.
"Besides, at least 47 plots are still vacant," says a source in Cox's Bazar.
Sources say most of the plots were allotted to BNP leaders, activists and their relatives since 2002. As a result, the zone earned its unofficial name as the "BNP Pally".
"Many leaseholders are using the plots for housing and other businesses in violation of the conditions. The violators' lease of land should be cancelled," commented Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader.
The ministry officials say many of the leaseholders are now applying for transferring ownership of the land.
The government on August 20, 2002 issued a rule saying ownership of the plots cannot be transferred or used for other purposes. But a contradictory rule issued on December 12 the same year allows transfer of ownership subject to prior approval by the government.
Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira said the government now wants to go back to the previous rule, which says ownership cannot be transferred.
Hira said the inter-ministerial meeting also decided to place a proposal to form Cox's Bazar Development Authority to promote tourism.
GM Quader said there are many expatriate Bangladeshis and also foreigners who want to invest in Cox's Bazar.
"We are making a master plan for the tourism sector. So no land in that area should be allotted to others without the tourism ministry's concern," he added.
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