Construction of an aircraft-shaped temporary structure is underway on Cox’s Bazar sea beach, defying a High Court ban on any construction in the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).
Despite clear court directives that prohibit all permanent and environmentally harmful temporary structures in the ECA, workers were seen building the installation on the sand dunes at Sugandha Point on Wednesday night, around 8pm. The structure measures roughly 30 feet in length and 15 feet in width.
District administration signboards placed along the beach also explicitly state that no mobile shops or structures are allowed on the sand dunes and warn of legal action against violators.
While investigating how the construction continued despite the restrictions, the Times correspondent obtained a permission letter signed by Azim Khan, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate, Tourism.
The letter shows that, following an application by a private firm named Brand Solution Limited, permission was granted on 17 December to hold an event from 21 December to 1 January on the northern side of Sugandha Point.
However, under the “event operation point” section of the permit, only a small LED display measuring five feet by six feet and a photo booth are mentioned. The document does not specify the size or dimensions of the aircraft-shaped structure now being built.
Among the 16 conditions attached to the permission, the first clearly states that no activity should harm the environment, ecosystem, biodiversity, or natural beauty of Cox’s Bazar sea beach. Another condition bars any activity that obstructs public movement.
Environmentalists have raised serious concerns over the constructionIbrahim Khalil Mamun, society chief executive of Youth Environment Society (YES), said the ECA is highly sensitive and that both permanent and temporary structures on the beach sand are prohibited. He said the authorities must investigate how such construction is being allowed.
Tourist Mostafa, who was visiting the beach, said the area is already crowded and that building a plane-like structure in the middle of the beach is disturbing. He added that the beach should remain open and unobstructed.
Irshadul Haque, director of the construction firm, told the Times over the phone that the installation is part of an activation or promotional campaign and that the company has taken the necessary permission. He said the operation manager, Ripon Biswas, could provide further details. When asked for Biswas’s contact number, Haque disconnected the call after saying he would “check”.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan said the matter would be looked into. He said no illegal activity would be allowed and that action would be taken if anyone violated the law.
However, repeated calls to tourism magistrate Azim Khan, who signed the permission letter, went unanswered.
