Government makes law to turn Cox’s Bazar a planned tourism city

The government has given the go-ahead to a draft law which aims to turn resort town Cox’s Bazar into a planned tourism city.

The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of the ‘Cox’s Bazar Development Authority Act 2015’ at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters: “The importance and prospects of Cox’s Bazar are immense. It’s a tourism city. It holds huge potential for development.

“But it is not attractive now because of unplanned urbanisation.”

He said under the Act, Cox’s Bazar Development Authority would be constituted to formulate plans to develop the district town into a tourism city.

The government will appoint a full-time chairman and three members for administration, development and planning.

The secretary said Authority will have altogether 15 members drawn from relevant ministries and divisions. Three of the members will be renowned citizens including a woman.

“This Authority will conduct surveys, prepare a master plan and devise city development plans to make Cox’s Bazar a planned tourism city,” he said.

Bhuiyan said the Authority would ensure ‘maximum utilisation’ of lands.

“The main responsibility of the Authority will be to ensure that no one uses land beyond the master plan,” he added.

“Permission from this Authority has to be taken for building construction and development work.”

The secretary said the panel would stop unplanned urbanisation of Cox’s Bazar and evict land grabbers.

It can issue orders to stop construction of building, filling of water bodies and cutting of hill.

Anyone violating the orders can be awarded maximum one-year jail term or fined up to Tk 500,000.