Kuakata National Park’s forests, remaining infrastructures facing extinction
Gofran Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)
Although the impact of a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal has subsided, it has left behind scars along the coast. After devastating the Kuakata Marine Drive road, the destructive waves have now pushed the Kuakata National Park towards obliteration. The forest and the last remnants of its infrastructure are on the brink of extinction due to the relentless onslaught of the sea’s turbulent waves.
Once a lush green forest adorned with jhau trees and various other species, the park served as a safe haven for wildlife and a vibrant destination for tourists. Today, it lies in ruins, reduced to mere debris. The combined wrath of nature and human negligence is on the verge of erasing the existence of this national park.
The storm surges caused by last Thursday’s low-pressure system struck the park in two waves, demolishing its gate, boundary wall, and infrastructure. Scattered remnants of the broken gate lie like skeletons, while hundreds of uprooted jhau trees are strewn across the beach. Everything appears as lifeless as a corpse on the shore. Locals report that much of the debris is now being collected and taken away. The Kuakata National Park exists only in name on paper; in reality, almost nothing remains.
On October 24, 2010, the Forest Department declared 1,613 hectares of reserved forest land in Kuakata, Gangamati, and Khajura as the ‘Kuakata National Park’ with the aim of conserving flora, fauna, and nature while promoting tourism. However, development efforts have made little progress. On the contrary, over the past decade, two-thirds of the forest land has been swallowed by sea erosion.
Locals note that two decades ago, the area was a dense forest, but now only the scars of deforestation remain. Allegations exist that a syndicate of forest exploiters, some forest dwellers, and dishonest officials from the Forest Department were involved in the destruction. Under the pretext of so-called settlements, much of the land has been encroached upon. In some areas, trees were burned down, and houses have been built in their place.
Most recently, natural disasters have destroyed the remaining infrastructure, leaving it in ruins. Visitors to Kuakata no longer witness the park’s beauty but return disappointed, seeing only a devastated relic.
Rumman Imtiaz Tushar, President of Kuakata Press Club**, stated, “Without protecting the Kuakata beach, it is impossible to save the jhau forest, the national park, the embankment, or any other structure. The beach is the foundation of everything in this area. If the beach itself vanishes, there will be no way to protect the Kuakata region in the near future. Although some initiatives have been taken, they are still insufficient. A planned, long-term project is needed for a permanent solution to these issues. By protecting the Kuakata beach through a sustainable and integrated plan, all structures, embankments, and forests in the area can be preserved. We urgently need a permanent and effective government plan.”
Environmentalist Mezbahuddin Mannu said, the situation is alarming. Over the past 24 years, 75% of the mangrove and non-mangrove forests along the coast have been lost to the sea. In essence, we have lost the green shield that protected us from storm surges during disasters. Immediate and permanent measures are needed to protect the beach; otherwise, the crisis will become catastrophic. It is unfortunate that the 18-kilometer beach is at risk from storm surges, yet every year, only emergency protection is provided around the zero point.”
KM Moniruzzaman, the newly appointed officer of the Mahipur Range of the Forest Department said, “I have recently joined. After inspecting the site, I will report all details to the higher authorities.
While there have been mentions of a master plan for Kuakata’s coastal protection, no specific or confirmed details about a 2025 protection plan for the Kuakata National Park or its beach were found in the provided information. A 2016 report mentioned government initiatives to develop a plan to make Kuakata more attractive to tourists, but there is no clear timeline or confirmation of implementation. The lack of a sustainable, long-term project continues to threaten the park and the surrounding beach.
Once a lush green forest adorned with jhau trees and various other species, the park served as a safe haven for wildlife and a vibrant destination for tourists. Today, it lies in ruins, reduced to mere debris. The combined wrath of nature and human negligence is on the verge of erasing the existence of this national park.
The storm surges caused by last Thursday’s low-pressure system struck the park in two waves, demolishing its gate, boundary wall, and infrastructure. Scattered remnants of the broken gate lie like skeletons, while hundreds of uprooted jhau trees are strewn across the beach. Everything appears as lifeless as a corpse on the shore. Locals report that much of the debris is now being collected and taken away. The Kuakata National Park exists only in name on paper; in reality, almost nothing remains.
On October 24, 2010, the Forest Department declared 1,613 hectares of reserved forest land in Kuakata, Gangamati, and Khajura as the ‘Kuakata National Park’ with the aim of conserving flora, fauna, and nature while promoting tourism. However, development efforts have made little progress. On the contrary, over the past decade, two-thirds of the forest land has been swallowed by sea erosion.
Locals note that two decades ago, the area was a dense forest, but now only the scars of deforestation remain. Allegations exist that a syndicate of forest exploiters, some forest dwellers, and dishonest officials from the Forest Department were involved in the destruction. Under the pretext of so-called settlements, much of the land has been encroached upon. In some areas, trees were burned down, and houses have been built in their place.
Most recently, natural disasters have destroyed the remaining infrastructure, leaving it in ruins. Visitors to Kuakata no longer witness the park’s beauty but return disappointed, seeing only a devastated relic.
Rumman Imtiaz Tushar, President of Kuakata Press Club**, stated, “Without protecting the Kuakata beach, it is impossible to save the jhau forest, the national park, the embankment, or any other structure. The beach is the foundation of everything in this area. If the beach itself vanishes, there will be no way to protect the Kuakata region in the near future. Although some initiatives have been taken, they are still insufficient. A planned, long-term project is needed for a permanent solution to these issues. By protecting the Kuakata beach through a sustainable and integrated plan, all structures, embankments, and forests in the area can be preserved. We urgently need a permanent and effective government plan.”
Environmentalist Mezbahuddin Mannu said, the situation is alarming. Over the past 24 years, 75% of the mangrove and non-mangrove forests along the coast have been lost to the sea. In essence, we have lost the green shield that protected us from storm surges during disasters. Immediate and permanent measures are needed to protect the beach; otherwise, the crisis will become catastrophic. It is unfortunate that the 18-kilometer beach is at risk from storm surges, yet every year, only emergency protection is provided around the zero point.”
KM Moniruzzaman, the newly appointed officer of the Mahipur Range of the Forest Department said, “I have recently joined. After inspecting the site, I will report all details to the higher authorities.
While there have been mentions of a master plan for Kuakata’s coastal protection, no specific or confirmed details about a 2025 protection plan for the Kuakata National Park or its beach were found in the provided information. A 2016 report mentioned government initiatives to develop a plan to make Kuakata more attractive to tourists, but there is no clear timeline or confirmation of implementation. The lack of a sustainable, long-term project continues to threaten the park and the surrounding beach.
