Rash bike rides on Cox's Bazar beach

COX'S BAZAR, Dec 13: Beach bikes and cars are moving randomly on the Cox's Bazar beach, hampering environment of the beach and habitats of different animals.

Meanwhile, at different points of the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), the vehicles are being driven on various rare animals including red crabs, sea turtles, snails and oysters roaming on the beach sand.

Driving on the beach causes death of countless crabs, egg-laying turtles, baby turtles, snails and mussels every day.

As a result of driving, the habitats of various types of invertebrates including beach crabs, snails and waterfowl are being damaged.

The beach area up to the mouth of the Reju canal in Inani is a resting ground for sea turtles. But due to noise pollution, littered beach and night lights, turtles are being obstructed from laying eggs. For this, biodiversity and environment of the beach is under extreme threat.

On the other hand, various vehicles are also moving inside the Zhou forest. Driving through the forest is causing damage to the forest vegetation.

It has been reported that beach bikes, jeeps and cars are being driven in the Pechardwip Beach and Himchhari Para beach area of Ramu Upazila without permission.

As a result, the breeding and habitats of various types of invertebrates including beach crabs, snails and waterfowl are being damaged.

Himchhari National Park Co-Management Executive Committee Member Secretary Range Officer Sameer Ranjan Saha said that even after verbally informing the people and institutions about the law, they are driving as usual and disobeying the law. Along with beach bikes, jeeps and cars, bonfires are lit at night at crab beach and Pechardwip beach area of Himchhari Para.

Himchhari National Park Co-Management Executive Committee President Ayachur Rahman said that Pechardwip of Khuniapalang Union in Cox's Bazar's Ramu Upazila and Crab Beach area of Himchhari Para are breeding grounds and habitat of various types of invertebrates.

According to the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995 (Amended 2010), Cox's Bazar-Teknaf beach is declared as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA). According to the law, any activity (transportation) that harms marine life is prohibited in the area.

According to the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation and Security) Act, 2012, conservation of wildlife habitat is essential. Immediate steps are needed to protect the environment and biodiversity of the Crab Beach area of Pechardwip and Himchhari Para.

Deputy Commissioner, Forest Department, Directorate of Environment and other departments concerned have been informed to stop the movement of beach bikes and cars on Himchhari beach in order to preserve the breeding and habitat of various types of invertebrates.

Sarwar Alam, divisional forest officer of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division, said that it is necessary to protect red crabs, turtles and other plants to protect the environment. For this, it is necessary to stop the movement of vehicles on the beach. Legal action will be taken against anyone driving in the Zhou Beach.

District Administration Tourism Cell Executive Magistrate Md. Murad Islam said that permission has been given to ride beach bikes from Kalatali point of the beach to Daryanagar.

Regular raids will be conducted against illegal beach bikes or any vehicle movement on the beach, he also said.