20-year master plan to turn Cox’s Bazar into a smart city likely to start next month
The 20-year master plan to transform tourist city Cox's Bazar into a modern and smart city is likely to be initiated next month.
The Cox's Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA) is ready to prepare a master plan for the tourism city.
"We're working to formulate a master plan for 20 years -- from 2023 to 2043 -- to transform Cox's Bazar into a smart city. The formal work to this end will start next month," chairman of the CoxDA, Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar, told reporters in a views-exchange meeting held at his office yesterday.
Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher also spoke at the programme.
A detailed area plan is also being formulated to ensure a planned development for an attractive and environment-friendly Cox's Bazar.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier asked the authorities concerned to prepare a master plan for Cox's Bazar, to develop it as a smart city with all the modern facilities.
She also asked authorities concerned to keep the beauty of the "longest natural unbroken sea beach" in the world unharmed.
Sheikh Hasina wants to transform Cox's Bazar into a global hub of tourism and aviation by developing a dedicated tourist attraction for foreigners, and a state-of-the-art international airport with the country's only marine runway, the CoxDA chairman said.
The CoxDA chairman also said they were formulating the master plan following the directive of the prime minister.
It includes formulating a strategic policy plan, detailed area plans of all the upazilas and beach areas of Cox's Bazar (690.67sqkm), and tourism and regional development plans.
Disaster management, preparing a Smart City Model for Cox's Bazar, transport management, environment management, drainage and sanitation management, utilities and socio-economic development and sectoral plans are also key features of the master plan.
To support the Vision 2041 announced by the Awami League government to turn Bangladesh into a developed country with high income, the CoxDA is undertaking several development projects.
The projects include cable car installation from Cox's Bazar to Sabrong and Cox's Bazar to Moheshkhali, introducing watersports and other amusement facilities on the sea beach, indoor amusement park, CoxDA Marina Bay Resort, CoxDA Condominium Project, Eco-resort in Moheshkhali, protecting lives and boosting marine tourism, preparing a roadmap to tap potential of the blue economy, renewable energy project, installation of central sewerage treatment plant (STP), water treatment plan and introducing sea-plane, cruise ship and helicopter services, and preparing integrated coastal zone management plan.
CoxDA chairman Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar said they are working to set up the central STP in Cox's Bazar, otherwise the Bay of Bengal will be a dead zone with huge amounts of sewerage going into the sea.
"Once the projects are completed, they can immensely contribute to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals," he said.
He added that they have already completed several projects that include reforming and rehabilitating Cox's Bazar's traditional Laldighi, Goldighi, markets and ponds, and building a multi-storey building for CoxDA.
The ongoing development schemes of the CoxDA are: building residential flats for CoxDA, sculpture and modern passenger shed at Moheshkhali, reforming and expanding the main road of Cox's Bazar (Holiday Crossing-Bazatghata-Larpara Bus Stand).