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Published : 25 Jul 2025, 10:04 PM
A tidal surge triggered by a deepening low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has struck Teknaf’s Marine Drive once again, eroding a 2.5km stretch of the road.
The system, which intensified into a depression while moving northwest, has made the sea rough and raised tidal levels.
Waves began pounding the road from Thursday night through Friday morning, damaging at least 10 points between Baharchhara Ghat and Zero Point in Subrang union, according to Ranjan Kumar Biswas, sub-divisional engineer at the Cox’s Bazar office of the Roads and Highways Department.
Earlier geo-bag reinforcements in the same area have now been breached.
The latest waves overcame those defences and eroded the road again.
Abdul Hannan, assistant meteorologist at the Cox’s Bazar Met Office, said the depression was centred 265km west of the Cox’s Bazar seaport as of 6am on Friday.
As a result, tidal surges of one to three feet and gusty winds are expected along coastal areas.
Ports in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist local warning signal No. 3.
On the ground, sections of the geo-bag embankment near Subrang’s Fateailya Para have collapsed.
In some areas, tidal water has entered farmlands through broken parts of the road.
Local residents fear a complete road collapse could flood nearby villages.
Similar erosion affected this part of the road in August 2023 and again in May this year.
On those occasions, the Army’s Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB) used geo-tubes to slow the damage.
Residents say the erosion has raised serious concern in the area.
Helal Uddin, a local farmer, warned that several thousand acres of farmland lie to the east of the road.
If saline water flows in, crop damage could be severe, he added.
Mohammad Siddiq, a member of the Subrang Union Parishad, said the union’s acting chairman and the Upazila administration were informed immediately after the erosion was reported.
Locals blame “unauthorised” sandlifting from the sea for weakening the road’s foundation.
They say influential figures have been extracting sand “illegally” to fill land for commercial development as tourism expands in the area.
Ali Ahmad, a resident of Subrang Union, said efforts are under way to build hotels and motels along the eastern side of Marine Drive.
“Many powerful people are taking sand from the beach without permission. That’s why even a moderately strong wave now breaks the road,” he said.
Engineer Ranjan confirmed that Marine Drive remains under the care of the Army’s ECB, which has been alerted to the situation and is taking steps.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi (executive) Officer SK Ahsan Uddin said the deputy commissioner and relevant departments have also been informed to help address the situation.
