Cox's Bazar
Five Rohingyas enter Bangladesh from Myanmar, including a woman with bullet injuries
Amid the ongoing conflicts along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, five Rohingya people including a woman with bullet injuries, entered Bangladesh through Shah Porir Dwip jetty in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar.
The intruders came here from Myanmar crossing the Naf River and arrived at Shah Porir Dwip Jetty Ghat in Teknaf around 4 pm, said Abdus Salam, UP member of ward number 9 of Teknaf Sabarang Union.
330 officials handed over to Myanmar
Later, "We informed BGB members and they reached the spot," he added.
However, no statement was received from Teknaf Border Guard BGB in this regard.
Unidentified man’s body found along Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar
International Oceanography Conference underway in Cox's Bazar, ends today
A two-day International Oceanography Conference began in Cox's Bazar on Saturday.
Speakers urged every country to come forward to take timely initiatives and proper planning and implementation to prevent pollution and protect the sea resources.
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Md Ali Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, inaugurated the conference as the chief guest. He said the government has taken various projects around the Bay of Bengal region.
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The steps taken by the government for the development of the blue economy will benefit Bangladesh as well as regional countries, he said.
Oceanographers from 12 countries and students from different universities took part in the two-day conference.
As cold weather continues, Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’
Tourism sector suffers severe blow amid political turmoil
Political instability ahead of the national election appeared as a big blow to Bangladesh’s tourism sector as most popular tourist destinations including Cox's Bazar, St. Martin, and Kuakata see sharp drop in the number of visitors.
With up to 90 percent of advance bookings canceled, the once-bustling establishments face unprecedented vacancies as people are reluctant to travel amid the countrywide ongoing blockades and hartals enforced by the BNP and some other like-minded opposition parties.
Tourism industry insiders claimed they had to count losses worth Tk 1.5 thousand crore in the last several weeks due to cancellation of advance bookings in hotels, motels, and resorts across tourist hotspots until mid-January.
Women's participation in the tourism industry should be increased: Speakers
Hotel and motel owners said prior to October, over 50-60 percent of rooms in more than 500 hotels and motels in Cox's Bazar were booked daily.
However, recent weeks have witnessed a drastic decline in tourists, reducing the number from half a lakh to a mere 5-10 thousand. Most of the visitors are predominantly locals. Similar circumstances prevail in Kuakata and St. Martin.
Hotel and motel owners expressed concern about the ripple effect on their employees, as business downturns force layoffs and hinder salary payments.
President of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), Shiblul Azam Qureshi, laments the impact on tourist spots like Cox's Bazar, St. Martin, Rangamati, and Kuakata.
“Now is a critical period for the tourism sector. Bookings for November, December, January, and February—the prime tourist months—have been canceled,” he said.
He said Cox's Bazar, Kuakata, Sundarbans, Sylhet, Ratargul, Jaflong-Tamabil, Rangamati, and Patenga Beach, which should be bustling with tourists at this time, now lie empty.
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He also said he has a hotel at St. Martin but its 90% rooms are lying vacant now.
“With the tourism season typically starting in October and reaching its peak in November, the ongoing political unrest has resulted in nearly empty hotels and motels this month, with bookings canceled due to the blockade,” he said.
Salim Newaz, General Secretary of Cox's Bazar Hotel Motel Guest House Owners' Association, said over 500 hotels and motels are empty now due to the continuous blockade progrmame.
230 BGB platoons deployed on day 2 of blockade
Mukhim Khan, general secretary of the Kalatali Marine Drive Road Hotel-Motel Owners' Association, estimated a staggering Tk 1000 to 1500 crore losses due to the prolonged blockade.
He urged the concerned to keep tourist vehicles out of the purview of hartals and blockades to salvage the tourism sector.
Similarly, Motaleb Sharif, General Secretary of the Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners’ Association, said, safety concern has led to widespread booking cancellations, as people are reluctant to embark on risky journeys with their families amidst political instability.
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In another first, PM Hasina opens Ctg-Cox's Bazar railway line
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (November 11, 2023) inaugurated the much-awaited 102-kilometre Chattogram-Cox's Bazar dual-gauge single railway line setting yet another milestone in the country's communication network.
The southern region wore a festive look as she unveiled the new rail route (from Dohazari in Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar) for train movement at a ceremony at newly constructed Cox’s Bazar Railway Station.
The premier flagged off a train and then travelled by it from Cox’s Bazar Railway Station to Ramu Railway Station.
Read: Oyster-shaped railway station adds greater tourist attraction to Cox’s Bazar
She bought her own ticket from the counter of the railway station. She waved the green flag before boarding the train.
She also blew the whistle signalling the start of the train.
Addressing the inauguration programme, the prime minister said, “Today Cox's Bazar has been linked to the country's railway network. I am really very delighted for being able to attend the inaugural ceremony physically, " she said.
"I have kept my promise by inaugurating the railway. This was a longstanding demand of this region. This is a day of feeling proud," she said.
Read: Railway Minister to inspect Dohazari-Cox's Bazar line before inauguration
Talking to reporters during the train ride, the prime minister said that this train link will contribute a lot to country’s GDP and economy.
“Transportation of goods, people and tourists will be expedited resulting in increase the GDP and more vibrant economy,” she said.
She mentioned that Cox’s Bazar has the longest sandy sea beach in the world.
“But we could not build this tourist spot up to the mark. We have to make sure that tourists can come here comfortably,” she said.
PM Hasina said that apart of tourists conveyance the trade and commerce of this area have been given importance.
“We are building a deep seaport, power station, building an economic zone here,” she said.
She also mentioned that Bangladesh will be linked with trans Asian railway by this rail line.
“This rail line will go to Ghumdhum from Ramu, later from Ghumdhum it will be linked with South and South East countries.”
Read: Chinese-built railway opens via Bangladesh's Padma Bridge
On her arrival at the venue, the prime minister was received by Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan and local MPs.
Local artists greeted her with traditional songs and dances.
The railways minister presided over the programme.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Bangladesh Ginting and Railways Ministry secretary Md Humayun Kabir also spoke at the event.
Cox's Bazar wears festive look ahead of PM’s visit on Saturday
Major points of Cox’s Bazar town and two sides of the roads are now adorned with banners, festoons, and billboards to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who will address a public rally in the coastal town on Saturday .
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, will inaugurate 15 projects and lay the foundation stones of four other projects. She will address a rally at 2:30 pm in Moheshkhali’s Matarbari.
On Saturday morning, the premier will inaugurate the iconic oyster-shaped railway station in the Hajipara area of Jhelongja Union.
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According to the notification of the Deputy Commissioner, on this day, the prime minister will inaugurate 15 projects including railways and lay the foundation stones of 4 projects worth about Tk 88,000 crore.
Of these 15 projects, nine are major projects and 6 are small.
The projects to be inaugurated include railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar, Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Project, Matarbari Deep Sea Port Channel, Bridge over Bakkhali River, Connecting Kutubdia Island to National Grid through Submarine Cable, Ukhiya Waste to Power Generation Project, Technical Training Center in Ramu Upazila, expansion and development work of Chakaria Bir Mukti Joddha Shaheed Abdul Hamid Municipal Bus Terminal, Kutubdia Thanda Chowkidar Para RCC Girder Bridge, Gorakghata-Shaplapur Janatabazar Road in Maheshkhali, land filling of Water Development Board under Airport Development Project, Dam Construction Project, Eidgaon Jahanara Girls High School, Moheshkhali Yunuskhali High School, Ukhiya Ratna and Morichya Palong High School academic buildings.
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On the other hand, the projects to be laid foundation stones are-- 1st Terminal of Matarbari Deep Sea Port Channel, Teknaf Multipurpose Disaster Resilient Shelter cum Isolation Centre, RCC Girder Bridge Construction on Nanda Khali Road in Ramu, and Building Construction Project under Cub Scouting Expansion Scheme in District Primary Schools.
Stringent measures have been taken by law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security.
Cox’s Bazar District Awami League has taken all preparations to make this event successful.
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Mujibur Rahman, general secretary of District Awami League, said that several lakh people will gather in this public meeting. Adequate security measures have been taken by the concerned including the police administration.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the prime minister's arrival on Saturday, the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Cox's Bazar Md Shaheen Imran banned carrying and displaying all types of legal weapons in Cox's Bazar.
He said that this measure has been taken to control law and order in the district and to ensure security during the PM's visit.
Test run of train on Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route likely on October 15
The trial run of a train on Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route is expected to be conducted on October 15 as 92 percent work on the railway route has been completed, said the project director.
The trial run of the train will be conducted in presence of Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon, Mafizur Rahman, director of Dohazari--Cox's Bazar rail project told UNB on Thursday.
The construction work of an iconic rail station, culvert, level crossing and highway crossing is almost finished, he said.
The 102 kilometer Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail project is almost finished and now it is ready for train movement, said Mafizur Rahman.
“Already all preparations have been taken to conduct a trial run on the route and a locomotive with six bogies will run on the route first. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the rail route at the end of October. Later, the residents of Dhaka will enjoy the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar rail route later,” he said.
Read more: After 10 years of delay, Mongla-Khulna rail line likely to open in October
According to the project officials, under the project a 102-km new dual gauge single railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar has been built at a cost of Tk 18,000 crore.
Already an Oyster-shaped international standard railway station has been built in Cox’s Bazar town and seven more stations from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar were built while an overpass was also constructed to facilitate the movement of elephants and other wild animals as the rail line crosses a reserved forest area, said the project director.
Besides, the repair work of the 450 meters of the trail tracks which was damaged due to the recent floods was done, he said.
Rezaul Karim, president of Cox’s Bazar Tourist Traders Association, said the number of tourists could increase by three times with the launching of the rail route.
Zahidul Islam, a resident of Cox’s Bazar, said the residents of the district have been deprived of the train services for long but the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar project will make their dream come true.
Read more: Uttara to Motijheel in 38 mins once part of Metro Rail from Agargaon opens on Oct 20
Mohammad Shaheen Imran, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, said the project work is almost finished and if everything remains okay the trail run of train on the rail route will be conducted on October 15.
8 rail stations
According to the project officials, there are eight stations along the 102-km railway including at Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulahazara, Eidgaon, Ramu and Cox's Bazar Sadar.
To facilitate this, three big bridges have been constructed on Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers. Besides, 43 small bridges, 201 culverts and 144 level crossings have been constructed on the railway.
A flyover was constructed in Keochia area of Satkania, and two highway crossings in Ramu and Cox's Bazar areas.
An overpass of 50 metres and three underpasses were constructed for the movement of elephants and other wildlife.
Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train service still a distant reality as project limps along
UN Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja visits Ukhia Rohingya camp
A six-member delegation, including the UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Kanni Vignarazar, visited the Rohingya camp at Ukhiya in Cox's Bazar on Monday (September 11, 2023).
During this visit, they observed various activities of the donor organisation.
Also read: UN Assistant Secretary-General's visit to Bangladesh set for September 9
The delegation reached Block-L/17 of Rohingya Camp-18 in Ukhiya around 10:00 am on Monday. Later, they visited the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre at IMO.
During the visit, an IMO official presented the delegation with details by displaying various items bearing testimony to the history and heritage of the Rohingyas preserved inside the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre.
A group of Rohingya artists played musical instruments for the delegation and sang a Rohingya anthem (Tarana). They then visited the Model Village under the UNCR-NGO Forum and BRAC Dhara-run pilot project located in Camp 17 H/71 block and visited the ISO SET bio-diversity nurseries. During this time, BRAC officials briefed them on how waste material is paid for in the project.
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Later, NGO officials gave a detailed briefing to the delegation on how the Rohingyas collect rations through smart cards. Later, they paid a courtesy call on the CIC at the CIC office of Camp-4 Extension.
US Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Vignarazar spoke to some of the Rohingyas who came to WFP’s e-voucher shop and inquired about them. Later, the six-member delegation returned to Cox's Bazar around 3:00 pm. Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mizanur Rahman and Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran were present during the visit.
Also read: Sweden, UNDP continue to work on climate adaptation in Bangladesh
"During this time, the delegation observed various activities of the donor organisation. Later, they spoke to some Rohingyas who had come to the WFP’s e-voucher shop for some time," said Mizanur.
Throat-slit body of Rohingya boy recovered from drain in Ukhiya camp
The throat-slit body of a Rohingya boy was recovered from a drain in Ukhiya camp of Cox’s Bazar early Saturday.
The deceased Md Mujib, 17, was son of Obaidul Haque of West bloc in the camp No-8 of Ukhiya upazila.
Read more : Woman’s throat-slit body recovered in Sylhet
Sheikh Muhammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya police station, said locals spotted the body in a drain around 6am.
Later, they informed Rohingya Majhi (leaders) who subsequently called Armed Battalion Police (APBn) in the camp, he said.
Read more : Throat-slit body of Rohingya man recovered in Cox’s Bazar
The body was sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, the OC said adding that it could not be immediately known whoever was involved in the killing.
PM Hasina to inaugurate Matarbari coal-fired plant in December to add 600MW to national grid: Officials
The first unit of Matarbari coal-fired power plant in Maheshkhali of Cox's Bazar district is likely to go into production by this December, adding 600 MW of electricity to the national grid.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the plant, project officials told reporters this week.
A ship carrying 64,300 mts of coal for the Matarbari plant had arrived from Indonesia on June 23.
The 1200 MW power plant has been built on 1,414 acres of land in Matarbari and Dhalghata unions of Maheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar district.
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Along with the construction of this power plant with Japanese funding on the coast of Cox's Bazar seven years ago, work has also started on the construction of port infrastructure and jetty for coal offloading from ships.
While visiting the area recently, it was seen that the project implementing company, Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCL), is going ahead with the work of this mega project.
The work of the jetty for the coal discharge with the power plant is almost finished. Vessels have also started sailing at the jetty.
PM urges JICA to allow farmers to use wastage of sea water in the desalination project at Matarbari
The project has changed the entire landscape of the area, said officials.
Some 13,104 tons of coal will be required daily to generate electricity at full scale. Coal discharge jetties and silos have been constructed for this.
Coal required for 60 days has been kept in the huge silos. Up to 80,000 ton capacity mother vessels can directly enter the coal jetty. And it will take one and a half to two days to unload the coal from the mother vessel.
Two separate ashponds are kept to store ash for a lifetime of 25 years of the power plant. One has an area of 90 acres, another spread over 600 acres. Coal yard has been prepared on 80 acres of land for coal storage.
64,300 mts of coal for Matarbari coal-fired power plant arrives
A loan agreement on the project was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and JICA on June 16, 2014. The project cost has been estimated at Tk 51,800 crores.
Of this, Tk 43,921 crore will be given as project support by JICA and the remaining Tk 7,933 crore will be provided from the own funds of Bangladesh Government and CPGCBL.
According to project sources, 95 percent of the jetty and physical infrastructure work has already been completed and 90 percent of the overall physical infrastructure work has been done.
Executive Director Nazmul Huq, Matarbari coal-fired plant project said that PM Hasina will inaugurate the power plant in December.
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“But we want to add 600 MW power from here before inauguration and that will happen. The first unit of the Matarbari coal-fired power plant is scheduled to be commissioned in January 2024, but we expect to be fully operational by this December,” he said.
He mentioned that the second unit will be commissioned in next July.
However, he said, electricity from both the units will be connected to the national grid.
The executive director mentioned that the project is being worked on by ensuring all necessary measures to prevent environmental pollution.
“The coal will be seen only once when the coal is unloaded from the ship. Then the coal will go directly from the jetty to the plant. It will not pollute the environment," he said.
Read more: 26,620 mts of coal for Rampal Power plant arrives at Mongla
Highlighting the overall status of the project, the executive director said, we have two parts of this project, one of which is the power plant, the other is the port.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran told reporters that the Matarbari Coal Power Project is a priority project of the prime minister.
4 Rohingyas abducted from Teknaf freed on ransom
Four Rohingya refugees who were abducted from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar have been released in exchange for a ransom of Tk 5 lakh.
The abducted Rohingyas are: Mohammad Yunus, 32, son of Nur Hossain; Mohammad Sultan, 24, son of Mohammad Rafiq; Abdullah, 16, son of Abdur Rahman; and Anwar Islam, 18, son of Mohammad Syed. They are all residents of Alikhali Rohingya Camp-25, Block D/22, under Hnila union of Teknaf.
Read: 2 BCL leaders arrested for abduction, robbery at Dhaka College
The abducted Rohingyas returned home on Monday (June 5) evening, said Jamal Pasha, superintendent of police and deputy commander of 16 Armed Police Battalion (APBn).
They were given first aid at the NGO hospital. Later, the APBn members handed them over to their families, he added.
Read: Ctg boy killed after abduction for ransom; 2 arrested
Earlier on Friday (June 2, 2023) night, five Rohingyas were abducted by miscreants from Alikhali camp in Teknaf.
Of them, Jahangir Alam was dropped off, with his hands cut off, near the camp on Sunday (June 4, 2023) evening. Later, locals rescued him and took him to the hospital. He is now receiving treatment at the hospital.
Read: Abduction in guise of DB: Constable put on 1-day remand