PM’s directive preserves 3,000 trees along Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed authorities to build the four-lane Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive without cutting any trees, emphasizing the need to protect the environment.

Following his directive, the project is being implemented without removing around 3,000 trees that were initially at risk.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges launched the project in the 2024–25 fiscal year to upgrade an প্রায় 80-kilometre stretch from Kalatoli to Sabrang Zero Point in Teknaf into a four-lane road. As part of this, about 32 kilometres of the marine drive between Kalatoli and Patuartek is being expanded.

Earlier reports had suggested that roughly 3,000 trees would be felled for the project. After the issue came to the prime minister’s attention, he immediately directed Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam to review the plan and ensure the road is widened without cutting any trees.

Acting on the instruction, the minister ordered officials to avoid tree felling. On April 21, he, along with State Minister Habibur Rashid Habib, visited the site and directed project কর্মকর্তাদের to proceed with the expansion while preserving the trees. Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam and other সংশ্লিষ্ট কর্মকর্তারা were present during the visit.

Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam later said that, after consulting engineers on-site, the road alignment had been slightly adjusted to protect the trees. He added that new বৃক্ষরোপণ initiatives are also being taken along both sides of the road to enhance its সৌন্দর্য while making it more environmentally and tourist-friendly.

“This is not just about saving trees; we want to further enhance the beauty of Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive and protect the environment,” the minister said, adding that the project could set a precedent for eco-friendly infrastructure development across the country.

According to ministry sources, the project includes road widening, bridge construction, RCC retaining walls, installation of CC blocks, and relocation of utilities. It also involves building a 305-metre-long two-lane bridge over the Reju Canal.

The project is expected to be completed within this year, with construction work primarily supervised by the 16th and 17th Engineering Construction Battalions of the Bangladesh Army.

The prime minister’s decision on the Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive project is being seen as a strong example of balancing development with environmental protection, setting a forward-looking standard for future infrastructure initiatives.