Cox's Bazar Marine Drive road crumbling into sea

COX'S BAZAR, Aug 04: Aug 04: The picturesque Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive road collapsed at multiple points due to the relentless onslaught of sea waves amid adverse monsoon weather.
Nurul Hossain, chairman of Sabrang Union Parishad (UP), expressed concern as he observed the road collapsing at multiple points since Thursday afternoon.
The adverse weather conditions, exacerbated by tidal waves, have led to minor and major erosions in at least ten locations along the around 80 km stretch of the road from Cox's Bazar to Sabrang Zero Point.
Hossain warned that if prompt action is not taken to repair and reinforce the road, the erosion could escalate, ultimately leading to significant disruptions in connectivity.
Responding swiftly to the situation, a specialised unit of the Bangladesh Army's Engineering Corps has taken charge of the repair efforts. They initiated repair work at the affected spots from Thursday evening.
Md. Kamruzzaman, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Teknaf, pointed out that the recent increase in tidal water height, influenced by the full moon, has contributed to the erosion.
According to the UNO, the areas of Sabrang Baharchhara Ghat Munder Dale, Hadurchhra and west Munder Dale have experienced erosions along the Marine Drive. Bangladesh Army's engineering core has been working diligently to mitigate the effects and prevent further erosion.
Local UP Chairman Nurul Hossain said the erosion has significantly impacted a two-kilometre stretch of the road, from Baharchhara Ghat in Sabrang Union of Teknaf to the crematorium near Hadurchhara BGB camp and the nearby Jhaw Bagan.
He said several parts of the road have already been engulfed by the tidal waves, with some areas witnessing uprooted bushes.
Hossain said the potential consequences of the continued erosion are concerning for the Sabrang Tourism Park economic zone, as it could risk being isolated from the rest of the Marine Drive.
Abdul Hamid, a local, raised concerns about influential people buying land on the eastern side of the Marine Drive road.
He alleged that these individuals have been lifting sand from the beach to fill the land they acquired, making the road vulnerable to tidal surges.
Rahman said that geo bags, dumped to protect the road, have already started bursting, increasing the risk of further damage. Besides, cyclone Mora, which struck earlier, also contributed to erosion at some points.