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BIP seeks halt to road work damaging Cox's Bazar sand dunes

Published : Sunday, 30 August, 2026 at 3:39 PM

Observer Online Report

The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) has called for an immediate halt to road construction work in Cox's Bazar, alleging that the project is damaging sand dunes and the coastal environment.

In a press release on Sunday, BIP also demanded an independent and integrated reassessment of the project's environmental, climate, disaster risk and planning impacts.

The organisation said the road is being constructed from Sugandha Point to Hotel Sayeman under the Urban Development and Urban Governance Project, implemented by Cox's Bazar Municipality with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

BIP expressed concern that the construction work was damaging the beach's sand dunes, coastal vegetation and natural sand layers.

It said the dunes and coastal vegetation serve as natural barriers against waves, storms, storm surges and coastal erosion, while also providing important habitats for coastal biodiversity.

According to BIP, filling, levelling or removing the dunes for road construction could damage the environment and biodiversity and weaken Cox's Bazar's long-term coastal protection and climate resilience.

The organisation questioned the planning rationale of a project intended to protect erosion-prone areas and improve facilities for tourists if it damages the coast's natural defence system.

BIP also sought clarification on whether alternative locations and designs had been properly assessed and whether the project had obtained the necessary environmental clearance from the Department of Environment.

It urged the authorities to suspend the ongoing work, review the project's environmental and other required approvals, and consider alternative locations and designs that would preserve the sand dunes and coastal ecosystem.

BIP also called for consultations with all stakeholders and said the project should be cancelled if a reassessment finds it environmentally harmful, with a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative adopted instead.

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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