Erosion fury rages on along Cox's Bazar beach

Erosion on the Cox's Bazar sea beach is intensifying due to the adverse weather conditions, including rough sea and high tides, over the past few days.

Consequently, the coastline has become unsafe for tourists, and the surrounding establishments like hotels and motels are also at risk.

Oceanographers are indeed concerned about the future of beach erosion, particularly due to the anticipated effects of climate change, including rising sea levels.

On the other hand, the steps being taken by the Water Development Board (WDB) to prevent erosion are actually making the situation worse.

A few sources claimed that erosion along the sea beach is intensifying due to the sand dams built by the WDB.

If sand dams are built on one side of the beach, erosion spreads rapidly on the other side. Apart from this, the sand dams made with geotextile bags are also not sustainable.

Erosion is leading to the loss of land, infrastructure damage, and the displacement of coastal communities.

Locals said that erosion on the beach has emerged as a serious problem, which is having a negative impact on the region's tourism and ecosystem.

Rising sea levels, natural disasters like cyclones and tidal waves under the impact of climate change, and unplanned construction of various structures and dams on the beach are accelerating erosion. And to get rid of the situation, locals have demanded that urgent measures be taken immediately by the authorities.

Over the past decade, several spells of erosion have occurred at various points of the Cox's Bazar sea beach. Although the WDB has installed geotextile bags across a four-kilometre area to prevent erosion, they are not working. A fresh bout of erosion is destroying tamarisk trees in a large number along the seashore.

Erosion is continuing damage at various parts of the beach-- at Laboni Beach, and the area from Nazirartek to Marine Drive.

Thousands of tamarisk trees have been uprooted in the past week due to the increase in height of waves and tides in the rough sea.

Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) President Abu Morshed Chowdhury said, "There has been no precedent of such severe erosion in the sandbank in the past 50-60 years.

Due to the unplanned installation of sand-filled geobag embankment by the Water Development Board, more parts of the beach are caving in. The waves and currents of the sea move normally, but when an obstacle is created, they go wild."

"When we went to the beach, we saw that the tidal water was two to three feet higher than normal and was crashing onto the shore. Most of the geobags were torn by the strong waves.

The tamarisk trees were uprooted one by one beyond the geobags," added Mr Chowdhury.

Md. Nurul Islam, divisional engineer of the Cox's Bazar Water Development Board, said that a defensive embankment will be built across a 6-kilometre area from Nazirartek to Laboni Point in Cox's Bazar town to prevent erosion. This project will prevent erosion, as well as protect the tamarisk forest and the sandbank.

According to the Forest Department, about 250 large and several thousand small tamarisk saplings have been uprooted in the last one month, which is dangerous for the marine environment and ecology.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, chief scientific officer of the Marine Fisheries and Technology Centre of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Cox's Bazar, has expressed concern about beach erosion.

He said it is not possible to control the sea or prevent erosion with sand dams. The sea level is increasing day by day due to the impact of climate change. Natural disasters are also increasing. If quick decisions are not taken to prevent erosion, this erosion may become more severe in the future. Erosion is more severe this year than last year.

In 1961-62, the Forest Department first planted the tamarisk saplings in the 12-hectare sandbank from Nazirartek to Himchhari on the beach.

Then, in 1974, the size of the tamarisk plantation was extended at the initiative of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Since 1972-73, at various times, 1.25 million sago palm saplings have been planted in about 500 hectares of sand dunes at the Diabetic Hospital on the Cox's Bazar sea beach, Laboni, Kalatali, Inani in Ukhia, Sonarpara, Baharchhara in Teknaf, Maheshkhalipara, and Sabrang coast.

In the last 10 years, at least 700,000 sago trees have disappeared into the sea due to storms and tidal waves.

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