Engineer Mohammad Jasim Uddin has been appointed chairman of the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA), the statutory body responsible for planned urban development and tourism infrastructure in the coastal district.
The government appointed him to the position on a contractual basis with the status of Grade-2, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on June 11.
The notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Md Golam Rabbani on behalf of the president, stated that the appointment was made under Section 5(2) of the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority Act, 2016.
According to the order, Jasim Uddin will serve as chairman for a one-year term from the date of joining.
The notification also requires him to relinquish any professional, business, or organisational affiliations with government, semi-government, private, or other entities before assuming office. A separate contract will specify the other terms and conditions of the appointment.
Copies of the order have been sent to the relevant government offices and officials, including the Cabinet Division and the Prime Minister’s Office, for necessary action.
A resident of Pekua upazila in Cox’s Bazar district, Jasim Uddin becomes the latest head of the authority, which was established to protect the district’s unique coastal environment, prevent unplanned urbanisation and ensure sustainable land use through a comprehensive master plan.
The authority was formed following the passage of the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority Act in parliament on July 6, 2015. The official gazette was published on March 3, 2016, and the organisation began full-scale operations after the appointment of its first chairman later that year.
Since its inception, the authority has been led by three chairmen. Retired lieutenant colonel Forkan Ahmed served as the first chairman for three consecutive terms spanning six years. He was succeeded by retired Bangladesh Navy commodore Mohammad Nurul Absar in August 2022. In February 2025, BCS administration cadre officer Mohammad Salauddin took over the position.
With the appointment of Jasim Uddin, stakeholders are expressing hope that the implementation of CoxDA’s master plan, ongoing development projects and efforts to build an environmentally sustainable and internationally competitive tourism city will gain further momentum.
Local residents and development observers said that his engineering background and familiarity with the coastal region could contribute to more effective planning and execution of future development initiatives in Cox’s Bazar.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
