Tawhidul Islam, Cox's Bazar 

As part of the program marking the dreadful April 29 cyclone tragedy, residents of Kutubdia staged a sit-in protest in Cox's Bazar city on Tuesday, dressed in burial shrouds, to demand the construction of a sustainable embankment. They also reiterated their call for the introduction of ferry services on the Kutubdia-Magnama route.

The sit-in was organized in front of the Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office under the banners of Kutubdia Samity and Kutubdia Sustainable Embankment and Ferry Implementation Council. Earlier, a mourning rally and prayer session were held to commemorate those who lost their lives in the devastating cyclone that struck the island upazila of Kutubdia on April 29, 1991.

During the program, Shahin Abrar performed a protest song he wrote and composed, expressing the long-standing suffering of Kutubdia’s residents and demanding a durable embankment. The gathering resonated with a united slogan: "Protest for freedom, we demand a sustainable embankment."

Speakers at the event included Kutubdia Samity Cox’s Bazar President Professor Gias Uddin, Member Secretary Ashraful Huda Siddique Jamshed, former Chairman of Baraghop Union Parishad Shahid Uddin Choton, former Councilor of Municipal Ward No. 1 Aktar Kamal Azad, District Jubo Dal leader Didarul Islam Rubel, Ejabat Ullah Kutubi, and Council Coordinator of Kutubdia Sustainable Embankment and Ferry Implementation Council, journalist Ehsan Al Kutubi.

Journalist Ehsan Al Kutubi stated, “We don’t want to leave Kutubdia. We are the working people, salt farmers, fishermen, and ordinary citizens of Kutubdia — we want to stay in our land. We appeal to the government’s chief advisor: either wipe out Kutubdia by letting the sea engulf it, or give us a sustainable embankment. Enough of this annual drama over embankment allocations, which only end up being looted by so-called leaders. We demand a durable embankment now.”

Prof Gias Uddin highlighted three core demands: the construction of a permanent, sustainable embankment surrounding Kutubdia, the introduction of a ferry service between Kutubdia and Magnama, and the assurance of permanent rehabilitation for the residents of Municipal Ward No. 1.

The protestors called upon the government’s chief advisor to urgently take steps towards constructing a sustainable embankment. Otherwise, they warned of tougher programs ahead, including blocking the Cox's Bazar-Chattogram highway.

Various programs are being observed in Kutubdia, Chattogram, Dhaka, and other locations to commemorate the tragic day of April 29. Across all platforms, the island’s residents are united in their demands for a sustainable embankment and a ferry service.