The sand dunes of Cox’s Bazar just do not want to be clean. Months after a massive eviction drive cleared the beach of illegal structures, hundreds of shops have re-emerged at Sugandha Point and adjoining areas, raising fresh questions on whether the world’s longest natural sea beach can ever be freed from unauthorised commercial activity.
What triggered the recent Cox’s Bazar eviction drive
A directive of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on March 9 led to the demolition of 930 illegal structures at Sugandha Point on March 12, where joint forces led by the district administration carried out the demolition. Within four days, the authorities declared the dunes free of encroachments, demolishing over a thousand temporary shops and illegal structures.
But the relief was brief. The minister visited the site himself on March 22 and directed the Tourist Police and district administration to keep a watch but traders were said to have started putting back structures within a day. A new drive on March 24 destroyed more than a hundred newly rebuilt structures at Sugandha Point and nearby Mermaid Point.
Eid Holiday Reveals Enforcement Gaps
The most dramatic resurgence was during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday when government offices were closed, and monitoring loosened. “On the eve of Eid, in a matter of hours, more than 450 shops and structures were put up. This erased months of enforcement work. Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan confirmed the reoccupation and said the shop owners, who were evicted earlier, filed a writ petition with the High Court against the initial demolition, making it complex to take further action.
Why Illegal Shops Keep Returning
No, it’s nothing new. More than 200 illegal shops were evicted from the Sugandha beach stretch following a High Court order, but encroachers returned with new techniques to regain their businesses. About 500 businesses were taken off the beach in 2022, but more than 300 stayed, and many were rebuilt later. Environmental groups and local officials cite a number of reasons: temporary permits that are renewed annually, traders with real financial interests in their stalls, gaps in monitoring during the holiday period, and pending litigation that stalls enforcement.
The 120-kilometre Cox’s Bazar coastline, from Nazirartek to Teknaf, was declared an Ecologically Critical Area in 1999, and the existing rule does not allow any commercial structure within 300 metres of the high-tide line. Environmental groups, including the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, have served legal notices on government officials demanding that the law be enforced. Local advocacy groups have threatened mass protests if the crackdowns are not continued.
The administration’s latest move is to cancel all permits
In its most decisive step yet, the district administration on June 1 cancelled all temporary cards issued to operate shops on the beach dunes and announced that no new permissions will be granted. Cards issued or renewed through June 30, 2026 won’t be renewed for fiscal year 2026-27. Officials say the decision was made because cardholders repeatedly violated the conditions of their permits.
The Future of Cox’s Bazar Tourism
It remains to be seen whether this latest measure will succeed where previous eviction drives have not. Traders in Cox’s Bazar, who are in financial trouble and want to be rehabilitated, have litigation pending in the High Court. The fight to keep Cox’s Bazar free of encroachment looks less like a single crackdown and more like an ongoing test of whether enforcement can outlast the incentives to rebuild, with a decades-long cycle of demolition and rebuilding behind it.
FAQs
How many illegal shops on Cox’s Bazar beach were removed this year?
In a four-day operation in March 2026, authorities dismantled over a thousand temporary shops and structures, with additional structures being dismantled in subsequent operations.
Why do illegal shops keep coming back to the Cox’s Bazar beach?
The continuing encroachment is mainly due to renewed temporary permits, gaps in monitoring during holidays, financial pressure on traders and continuing legal challenges, officials and environmental groups say.
What is the latest on beach encroachment?
On June 1, 2026, the district administration cancelled all temporary permits for beach dune shops and said no new permits would be issued in the future.
Summary
Months after authorities demolished hundreds of illegal shops on Cox’s Bazar beach, structures have resurfaced at Sugandha Point and nearby areas. Officials cite loopholes, holiday timing, and legal challenges as encroachers repeatedly rebuild despite court orders.
