S.M Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, Cox's Bazar

Who is more powerful? The district administration or the Mermaid authorities? This is the question of the conscious community. One after another, private beach resorts have been built by occupying government land and ECA-listed beach sand.

Although the campaign to free the sand from encroachment is ongoing, for some mysterious reason, it is not affecting this 'Mermaid Beach Resort' even its footprints.

Despite showing the thumb to the administration, the upazila and district administrations are shamelessly acting as if nothing is happening.

Although a campaign was conducted on November 21-24, Mermaid is still in existence. Amidst all these allegations, on November 21, 2024 (Forest Case 115/24 Ramu), the Cox's Bazar South Forest Division filed a case against Mermaid Beach Resort.

Himchhari Bit Officer Kamruzzaman Shobhan has been harassed in various ways for filing a case against the influential resort owner. Even then, on 17/12/24, based on the information of the Divisional Forest Officer Cox's Bazar South, Dhuapalong Range Range Officer Md. Mosaddek Hossain sent a notice to Mermaid Eco Tourism Managing Director Aminul Haque Chowdhury Sohag on the memorandum 22.01.2200.798.11.001.24/458 to determine the boundary through a joint survey, but the Mermaid authorities did not accept it and returned it.

They are not willing to determine the boundary of their land, said an official of the Forest Department. The official, who did not want to be identified, said that during the Awami League era, they used to keep their mouths shut by threatening and harassing ministers and MPs. But they still show power. Kafil from Penchardwip area said,

During the Awami League government, the owner of the resort was a person close to some ministers and MPs. And now some leaders of a political party are showing their power. Illegal structures built on at least 5 acres of sand on Ramu Penchardwip beach were demolished on November 21. Although the occupation was cleared after a day-long drive, the structures were rebuilt in the same place. A full moon party was held there after a structure was built on the sand. Although a wooden bridge was broken during the drive, it was repaired and the resorts in the sand were reopened.

Ramu Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Sajjad Zahid Ratul said that although a drive was conducted last month, it is not known whether the structures were built again. Meanwhile, in January 2019, the district administration demolished illegal structures on about 20 acres of land, but some then MPs and ministers took over the land and built the 'Mermaid Beach Resort and Restaurant'. Since then, more than 60 acres of government land has been occupied and established as a VIP resort.

To increase the area of the resort, there was an attempt to build a restaurant by filling in the natural canal in the environmentally critical area of Daryanagar Beach on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive road for some time now. It has been alleged that the owner of the resort, Anisul Haque Chowdhury Sohag, has occupied the sand dunes of the sea one after another by showing his relationship with several ministers and influential leaders including the Awami League government's Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, ICT Minister Palak.

Although Sohag, who claims to be a member of the Sheikh family, has continued the occupation, for unknown reasons, no one in the administration has paid any attention to it for the last 15 years. In continuation of this, an illegal bridge has been built on the flowing canal without paying attention to the rules and regulations of the administration. One has to cross this bridge in that special DJ and liquor zone. However, the bridge has always disrupted boat traffic in the canal. Despite the environmental destruction activities taking place in the name of tourism, the silence of the administration has raised questions in the minds of the local people.

It is alleged that many VIPs in Cox's Bazar actually receive hospitality at this resort. The owner of the resort, Sohag, has taken advantage of this opportunity to occupy a huge sandbank in the names of various senior officials and built a huge empire on the sea beach. It is said that this sandbank is being used as if it were his own resources. In the nominal Penchardwip Mouza, 5.3512 acres in the BS 550 created account and 1.07 acres in the 679 created account, and only 6.4212 acres in two accounts are in the name of 'Mermaid Beach Resort', but it is illegally occupying 10 times that amount and continuing its business. As a result, social degradation has occurred, and young people and students of the rising age are indulging in immoral activities.

In addition, the government has lost land due to illegal encroachment, as well as the environment is being damaged, said the conscious citizens of the society. However, this government land grabber was shamelessly allowed by the district administration to hold a 30-day event, said a local teacher. Since it is the tourist season, the organization has now created a special zone for DJs and alcohol parties in the garden of Jhaubithi. Which has been named 'Full Moon Beach Party'. In doing so, hundreds of Jhaubithi have been cut down. Jhaubithi planted to protect the seashore have been uprooted. As a result, the country's only Marine Drive road is facing damage in addition to the environment.

Recently, it was seen on the spot at Mermaid Resort that tourists or locals are prevented from entering there through the bridge. Later, tourists can enter after being given a special token.

Local residents are turned away. Strategically going through that bridge to the special zone, we saw that hundreds of jhaubithi have been cut down and a special zone resembling a dance and singing stage, coffee shop, and liquor bar has been created.

This is basically a char that grows in the sea. It is known that the coastal forest department had planted jhaubithi in the place. The mermaid authorities cut down and built the establishment.