CHATTOGRAM, Dec 10: The Patenga beach area has been declared a tourism zone. The government made an announcement in this regard last month.
Following the announcement, a huge development project has been taken up to turn 7 miles (around 12 kilometres) area from Patenga to the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) into a tourism zone with all facilities.
Sources said the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) in cooperation with Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (the country's tourism authority) will be implementing the project.
They said a Detailed Project Plan (DPP) has already been prepared and the authority concerned will start the process of land acquisition and retrieval of lands on the beach area occupied by land grabbers.
To implement the project, two tourist blocks will be established on two sides of the zone. For this all unauthorised structures, including truck terminals, markets and shops and other illegal establishments will be demolished.
The CDA will conduct a drive to evict illegal occupiers to recover the grabbed lands from Patenga sea beach, 14 kilometres south of the port city, to the CEPZ, sources said.
An officials having full knowledge of the project said the CDA will acquire adequate land required to set up the tourism zone. It will acquire or retrieve lands from the West Point area to set up the zone called 'Tourism Zone-1', he said.
He also said that tourism and amusement establishments, including staircases leading to the sea, toilets and hydrants, restaurants, rides, etc will be built. Besides, street lights will be set up all along the 7-km stretch from the West Point at Patenga to the CEPZ.
Apart from this, tourism police will be posted at different points of the 7-km-long zone to ensure security of tourists, including local and foreign ones.
"The police will discharge their duty for security of tourists at the Patenga sea beach tourism zone," said Muslim Uddin, Deputy Inspector General of the tourism police.
"We have chalked out a plan in this regard," he added.
Contacted, Chief Engineer of CDA Engineer Kaji Hasan Bin Shams told the FE on Thursday, Patenga beach area will be declared a top tourism zone of the country.
Massive development will be done in the area for this.
"We have no alternative to declare Patenga as tourism zone," he noted.
To implement this, plans have been crafted and steps taken to establish a system for better management of the beach area, said an official at the CDA.
Engr Shams said as per the project plan, "We will set up two tourist blocks on two sides of the zone where rides and other equipment of amusements will be set up. We will increase facilities, including lighting and security, and introduce two local services of transport which can also be used by tourists in the zone area. We will develop the area like other tourist spots," he added.
Sources said Patenga sea beach is located 14 kms south from the main thoroughfare of port city. It is near the mouth of the Karnaphuli River.
It is situated at the Karnaphuli River mouth and stretches to the Bay of Bengal. Shah Amanat International Airport and BNS Isha Khan Naval Base are located near it.
Vendors with different items from the city flock to the sea beach to cater to the selection of the tourists, including ice creams, cold drinks peanuts and other foods.
The Patenga sea beach itself is quite sandy, with a few rocky patches here and there. Most visitors come to the beach as it is known for having some of the most attractive sunset and sunrise in Bangladesh.
Once implemented, tourists will be able to enjoy a river cruise on the Karnaphuli, or a boat trip onto the ocean waves.
Nature enthusiasts will find the Patenga beach to be a haven for most of the wading bird species of Bangladesh and if lucky, bird watchers will also be able to see spoon-billed sandpipers running around.
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