The High Court has halted the allocation of 9,467 acres of land on Sonadia Island, located in Cox’s Bazar’s Maheshkhali Upazila, to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) for the establishment of an eco-tourism park.
A court order has suspended the allocation, which the district administration had granted for a symbolic fee of just Tk 1,001.
The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury issued the ruling on Tuesday, November 26.
Advocate Hasanul Banna confirmed the decision, while Assistant Attorney General Mujahidul Islam Shahin represented the state during the proceedings.
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) filed a writ petition, which led to the ruling.
BEZA intended to use the 9,467 acres to create the nation’s largest ecotourism park, a project that would strengthen the tourism industry and strengthen the economy.
Mahindra Engineering, an Indian firm, is preparing a comprehensive master plan for the park, according to BEZA’s Executive Chairman, Paban Chowdhury.
Sonadia Island had previously been considered as a site for a deep-sea port, but the government shifted focus toward eco-tourism to transform the island into an economic zone.
The initiative aimed to promote community-based eco-tourism, involving local residents in sustainable development efforts.
However, concerns about the environmental impact of the project led to legal challenges. The Environmental Conservation Act of 1995 prohibits activities that could harm the island’s fragile ecosystem.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Collected
