Editorial
Law to stave off haphazard development
A step in the right direction
Once the Cox's Bazaar Development Authority Act 2013 (CBDA) has been enacted, a new body will come into force to take steps against the unplanned and haphazard structures being erected in the tourist hub of the district. This is a much awaited law that could very well save Cox's Bazaar from ruin. The law envisages a board comprising one chairman and three members with an enforcement authority to stem the tide against unscrupulous business interests that have been busy altering the very face of the largest tourist destination of Bangladesh.
With the government intending to generate as much as US$5 billion per annum from tourism, CBDA would spearhead the plan to properly develop the district and make it attractive to tourists, both domestic and foreign. The plan is to develop both Cox's Bazaar and Kuakata sea beaches as special tourism zones. Only by designating these spots as special zones can authorities hope to stem the tide of illegal structures being built all over Cox's bazaar district. Besides adversely affecting tourism, the erection of real estate that falls outside a master plan has had a detrimental effect on the delicate ecological balance of the area.
The law will incorporate and update all existing laws. It will bring into effect regulatory mechanisms that will entail proper licensing procedures for restaurants, hotels and motels in the area. With tens of thousands of tourists congregating at Cox's Bazaar and other places like Kuakata, the Act and the formation of the proposed regulatory body could not have come at a better time. This is more so, since SAARC countries attract some 10 million tourists. With our beaches largely 'unspoilt', proper laws and enforcement could attract desired international travellers and much needed foreign currency. Tourism in Bangladesh has lagged far behind its neighbours due primarily to a lack of proper facilities.
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