Mohammad Khorshed Helali from Cox’s Bazar
A three-kilometer section of the Marine Drive road in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, has started experiencing the impact of tidal waves once again, raising concerns about potential erosion. Around 2,000 families are at risk due to this situation.
On Wednesday (April 30) at around 11:00 AM, high waves exceeding normal tidal levels were observed hitting the Marine Drive road from Baharchhara Ghat in Sabrang Union to Zero Point in Teknaf.
This was confirmed by local Union Parishad member Mohammad Selim. He mentioned that in August 2023, during the full-moon tide, a part of this road had already suffered from erosion. At that time, the Engineering Corps of the Bangladesh Army attempted to prevent further erosion by placing geo-bags. However, less than two years later, the tidal water levels have risen again, and waves are striking the road, leading locals to fear a recurrence of significant damage.
Assistant Meteorologist Abdul Hannan from the Cox’s Bazar Regional Meteorological Office explained that although the weather conditions are currently stable, the new moon has caused a slight increase in sea water levels since Monday. While the wave height in the sea is typically around 3 meters during normal conditions, it exceeded 4 meters on Wednesday. However, he assured that the water level is expected to recede from Thursday.
Locals have alleged that influential individuals are purchasing land on the eastern side of the Marine Drive road and filling it by extracting sand from the adjacent beach. This practice is disrupting the natural balance and making the road more vulnerable. Furthermore, several of the previously installed geo-bags now show signs of damage.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ehsan Uddin stated that the Marine Drive road is maintained by the Engineering Corps of the Bangladesh Army. He acknowledged reports from local journalists about various sections of the road becoming vulnerable due to wave impacts. The matter has been reported to the District Commissioner, and efforts are underway to contact the Engineering Corps.
