Govt Plans To Flourish Moheshkhali-Matarbari As Tourist Destination

Moheshkhali and Matarbari hold immense potential to attract both local and foreign tourists, as the government has launched an ambitious plan to transform the coastal island.

The initiative aims to reshape the coastal economy by turning Moheshkhali into the country’s next industrial hub while also promoting it as a tourist destination.

The plan includes eco-tourism parks, conservation zones, and green corridors to protect the island’s natural environment, while simultaneously generating sustainable employment in tourism and conservation.

Moheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (Mida) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun recently submitted the plan to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Local residents also expressed optimism.

• Sanaullah Mustafa, a resident of Matarbari’s Banglabazar area, said, “Many tourists already visit Matarbari daily to enjoy its beauty. Once it is developed as a tourist zone, it will become a very popular destination.”

• Syed Noor, from Moheshkhali, shared that his family had visited the Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Plant area and the site of the upcoming deep seaport. “Like us, many people come here every afternoon to enjoy the sea’s scenic beauty,” he said.

• Rafiqul Islam, another inhabitant of Matarbari, noted that the project would create new jobs for locals. “Just like Cox’s Bazar, a huge number of tourists will visit every day,” he said.

Officials expect that once the plan is fully implemented, tourism in Cox’s Bazar will expand by 1.5 times, as new facilities in Moheshkhali-Matarbari will create more opportunities in hospitality, food services, transport, and tour guiding.

During a recent meeting with Mida officials in Dhaka, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasized the importance of developing eco-tourism and particularly highlighted the need for an afforestation campaign. “We must plan for the kind of forest we want to see in the future,” he said.

At the meeting, the Mida chairman presented a three-phase implementation strategy:

• 2025 to 2030

• 2030 to 2045

• 2045 to 2055

The authority has already begun its 120-day work plan, with the full master plan scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.

Locals remain hopeful that the project will transform their livelihoods. Many believe that tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar will also extend their trips to Moheshkhali to enjoy its hills, sea, Hindu temple, and salt fields.

“Currently, around 1,000 to 1,200 tourists visit Moheshkhali every day,” said Abdur Rahim, a rickshaw puller who transports visitors from the ghat.