Administration begins beach clean-up in Cox’s Bazar

Local administration has started its formal cleaning activities on the world's largest sea beach, Cox's Bazar.

Md Kamal Hossain, deputy commissioner (DC) of Cox's Bazar and president of the beach management committee, started the cleaning activities from Doriya Nagar area, along with a few hundred activists of a number of social and environmental organisations.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Ashraful Afsar, Deputy Director of Cox's Bazar Environment Department Nazmul Huda, Executive Magistrate (Tourism Cell) of the district administration Imran Zahid and heads of various organisations were also present during the clean-up activities.

Kamal said, "Floating waste materials are polluting the beach environment. Most of these waste materials are plastic containers and bottles which are not used in our country."

An investigation committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner (revenue) has been formed to look into the matter. The committee has already started its work.

"I believe that the committee will find out the reason behind the pollution by speaking with the specialists on the matter," added Kamal.

The deputy commissioner further said that they have started the work of removing the waste materials lying in the area of ​​about 12km from Nazirartek point to Himchhari point with the activists of 11 social and environmental organisations and the Department of Environment.

Anshar Hossain, who led the beach clean-up in Darianagar area, said various waste materials float their way to the beach during the monsoon season.

"However, this time too many empty bottles of liquor and non-degradable substances including plastics have been found on the beach which the locals have never seen before."

Dead animals including sea turtles and other amphibious animals have also been found with the waste, added Anshar.

Nazmul Haque, coordinator of Team Cox's Bazar, said, "In the last few days, we buried a few dead turtles and wild animals as well as removed waste materials from the area from Nazirartek to Himchhari Point."

About two dozen live turtles have been released during the clean-up, added Nazmul.