Just three decades ago, 27% of Cox’s Bazar city was covered by freshwater wetlands. Today, that figure has plummeted to below 5%. The coastal rural areas of the district face a similar fate. Environmental experts warn that the loss of wetlands is causing a rapid drop in groundwater levels, leading to an alarming increase in salinity and radioactive substances.
According to Dr Ashraf Ali Siddiqui, a Jatiya Kobi Kazi Nazrul Islam University professor, in 1989, potable water could be accessed through shallow tube wells at a depth of just 10 to 25 feet.
Today, that depth has exceeded 800 feet. Over the past three decades, this crisis has been fueled by land use changes and wetlands destruction. Wetlands play a vital role in absorbing carbon, filtering pollutants, and maintaining ecological balance.
Data shows that in 1989 wetlands accounted for 27.29% of Cox’s Bazar city. By 2010, that had reduced to 17.31%; by 2025, it is projected to fall below 5%. In addition to the loss of wetlands, agricultural land, forests, and natural vegetation have also significantly declined.
Dr. Ansarul Karim, an environmentalist, highlighted that the loss of wetlands is reducing the water retention capacity of agricultural land. Deforestation and hill-cutting are driving Cox’s Bazar towards an environmental catastrophe.
Experts emphasize the urgent need to conserve rainwater and construct large reservoirs to address the crisis. Dr. Karim cited the “Ghyben-Herzberg Principle,” which suggests that retaining water just 1 meter above sea level can raise groundwater levels by up to 40 meters.
Saied Mahmud Belal Hayder, Director General of the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute, stated that wetlands are critical for environmental protection, biodiversity, and tourism. Cox’s Bazar could soon face a severe water crisis without swift action.
The experts suggested harvesting rainwater by building reservoirs and dams, enforcing strict laws to restore wetland habitats, and promoting public awareness to protect natural water bodies.
They also suggested imposing regulations to prevent illegal hill-cutting activities, undertaking afforestation projects, and protecting existing green spaces.
By Rajin Saleh
Photo: Hussain Shetu
