Neglected for 22 years, Teknaf's Shah Porir Dwip jetty becomes increasingly unsafe

A tourist jetty at Shah Porir Dwip in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf has become highly risky after going more than two decades without renovation, with railings and other sections collapsing into the water.

The deteriorating structure is raising fears of accidents and putting tourists visiting from across Bangladesh and island residents at risk.

According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the 550-metre jetty was built in 2004 at a cost of Tk 21 million to facilitate vessel movement to Saint Martin's Island and a livestock corridor with Myanmar.

The jetty has a rest house, toilets and four stairways. A parking area was also provided beside it for users. It was handed over to the Cox's Bazar District Council in 2004 and opened for public use in 2006.

Local residents recently told bdnews24.com that a private company had extracted large quantities of sand from the Naf River using dredgers to fill low-lying land at the 405-hectare Sabrang Tourism Park.

They said the extraction had caused the riverbed around the jetty's supporting pillars to sink, leading to the collapse of railings and other sections.

Coastguard and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were seen on duty at the jetty entrance.

Mohammad Ekram, a hotel businessman at the jetty, said large vehicles were not being allowed on the structure because of its risky condition. He said several sections, including the railings, were collapsing and visitors were being asked not to crowd the jetty.

Abu Taleb, another businessman, said the jetty had never been repaired since it opened in 2006. Hundreds of people visit daily to enjoy the area's natural beauty, with many also travelling to Saint Martin's Island.

Mohammad Hasan, president of the Shah Porir Dwip Boat Owners' Cooperative Society, blamed unplanned sand extraction for the jetty's condition and said the entire island was now under threat.

Sabrang Union Acting Chairman Abdul Mannan said many island residents depended on the jetty for their livelihoods, while more than 100 people visited it daily and some made a living by fishing.

Mohammad Yunus, a fee collector for the jetty's leaseholder, said they had leased it from the district council for Tk 1.75 million a year. Visitors are charged Tk 10 each, but no government repair work has been carried out.

Teknaf Upazila Engineer Alauddin Khan said the district council had been responsible for the jetty since its handover. The LGED recently inspected it, prepared a cost estimate and sent it to the project director's office, with budget approval expected soon.

Teknaf Upazila administrator (UNO) SM Anik Chowdhury said the district council had been formally informed about the risky jetty and repair work was expected to begin soon.