Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that Cox’s Bazar sea beach will be brought under stricter discipline, with all illegal and temporary structures on the beach to be removed within a week under the district administration’s leadership.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Cox’s Bazar district law and order committee at the Shaheed ATM Zafar Alam conference room of the deputy commissioner’s office on Monday at around 1:40 pm.
The home minister said Cox’s Bazar beach is one of the country’s most important tourist destinations and must be developed to meet national and international standards.
“We have only one place in Bangladesh that ranks among the world’s top tourist attractions — Cox’s Bazar sea beach. We must improve it to meet international standards. For that, the beach must remain clean, free of illegal structures and any activity that may cause inconvenience to tourists,” he said.
Responding to a question from journalists about bringing back the killers of Hadi, he said the home ministry had already taken steps in this regard. “We have requested the foreign ministry to take action under the extradition treaty between the two countries, and we hope they will be returned. We will make strong efforts to bring them back,” he added.
The home minister also said anti-terror operations had been intensified. “We conducted a serious operation in the Chattogram area last night. We will not allow any terrorist, armed criminal, extortionist, or offender to remain outside the law. Everyone will be brought under the law,” he said.
He added that the government would continue its efforts to maintain law and order across the country so that people can live in peace and good governance can be ensured in line with public expectations.
Salahuddin Ahmed also said the government would take the highest possible measures to curb drugs and gambling, including online gambling. “If we want to build a drug-free society, we must first stop drug smuggling through the Ukhiya–Teknaf route in Cox’s Bazar. At the same time, all forms of drug trafficking and distribution must be stopped,” he said.
Earlier, the home minister joined the Cox’s Bazar district law and order committee meeting at the same venue at around 11:45 am as the chief guest.
The meeting, chaired by Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner Md A Mannan, was also attended by MPs Alamgir Muhammad Mahfuz Ullah Farid (Cox’s Bazar-2: Moheshkhali–Kutubdia), Lutfur Rahman Kajol (Cox’s Bazar-3: Sadar–Ramu–Eidgaon), and Shahjahan Chowdhury (Cox’s Bazar-4: Ukhiya–Teknaf), Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, superintendent of police ANM Sazedur Rahman, and other members of the district law and order committee.
Earlier, Salahuddin Ahmed arrived in his home district, Cox’s Bazar, on a two-day official visit — his first since assuming office as home minister. He was given a guard of honour at the Hilltop Circuit House upon arrival.
During the visit, he also travelled to Chakaria in his constituency to exchange views with party leaders and activists, and later went to Pekua to visit his parents’ graves before staying overnight at his residence.
He is scheduled to conclude the visit by leaving Cox’s Bazar for Dhaka on an Air Astra flight at 2:45 pm, with arrival expected at around 3:55 pm.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
