Patenga a beach encroached

Illegal structures are springing up along the port city's Patenga sea beach ignoring the directive of Chattogram Development Authority (CDA).

Locals alleged that the beach is losing its beauty due to illegal establishments. The beach environment is being polluted as garbage from these shops and various wastes used by tourists fall into the sea.

Tofazzal Hossain, a local, said due to the lack of regular supervision by the authorities, influential people are occupying the beach and building shops.

During a recent visit to the Patenga sea beach area, this correspondent found that hundreds of illegal structures were built with corrugated tin sheets and wood.

Mohammed Sakib, a businessman in the beach area, said Tk 20 is paid per day by each shop on the beach. Some linemen are in charge of collecting this fee.

"Local influential people build illegal structures on the beach in the dark of night. Even though they were evicted, the occupiers built structures again."

— Mohammed Israfil Mazumder, inspector of the Patenga sub zone tourist police

Last month, the CDA directed the immediate removal of all structures from the Patenga sea beach. It also directed the authorities concerned and tourist police to take necessary steps to stop encroachment, earth filling, and construction of structures on the beach.

Requesting anonymity, a store owner, who leased a store space from an influential quarter, said all the store owners have made verbal contracts with influentials and made payments to them.

When asked about their identities, he did not want to continue the conversation with this correspondent.

Every day, hundreds of people are thronging the area; the crowd doubles during holidays. At the same time, illegal shops are also built on the rocks of the beach. As a result, tourists cannot sit properly on the beach.

Farhana Akter Nipa, a tourist, said Patenga beach does not have provisions to sit anywhere and relax. "Everything is occupied here," she told this correspondent.

Mohammed Israfil Mazumder, inspector of the Patenga sub zone tourist police, said, "Local influential people build illegal structures on the beach in the dark of night. Even though they were evicted, the occupiers built structures again."

He said the beach is not regularly supervised as there is no committee in this regard. "We've requested the Chattogram Development Authority to evict the illegal structures from the beach," he added.

According to the CDA, it is almost done building a 17km embankment road from Patenga to Faujdarhat, Sitakunda. Around five-km of it will be for tourists.

Kazi Hasan Bin Shams, chief engineer of CDA, said their judicial court has ordered the eviction of all illegal structures from Patenga beach.

"There will be no illegal shops on the beach. We'll start the evacuation drive from next week," he added.

About the influential quarter, he said they will initiate the drive against all illegal structures, no matter who their owners are.