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The world’s longest sea beach, Cox’s Bazar, is now not only a hotspot for tourists but also overwhelmed with plastic waste. Every day, thousands of visitors flock to the beach, leaving behind plastic bottles, food wrappers, chip packets, and other single-use plastic items that litter the sandy shores.
According to environmentalists, this plastic waste is not only spoiling the beach’s beauty but also endangering marine life. Sea turtles, fish, and other creatures often mistakenly ingest plastic, leading to fatal consequences.
Locals say that while the city corporation and local authorities occasionally conduct clean-up drives, these efforts are mostly temporary. Without awareness and strict regulation, it is difficult to curb this pollution.
Several tourists, including Sayem, Joynul, Sahed, Kamrul, Emad, and Emon, shared their thoughts, saying that Cox’s Bazar is a place of stunning natural beauty. However, man-made issues are putting that beauty at risk.
"When we go into the sea to swim, we often feel plastic and polythene waste brushing against us," one said. "It’s unpleasant. The widespread use of single-use plastic items like bags, straws, and cups significantly adds to the pollution. We need public awareness to stop plastic waste from entering waterways and the ocean."
Mizan Ahmed, a businessman from the Kolatoli beach area, added, “The beach used to be very clean. Now, plastic often floats in with the waves.”
Environmentalists recommend controlling plastic use, launching awareness campaigns for tourists, and implementing eco-friendly waste management systems.
Talking to Dazzling Dawn, Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin stated that under the government's "Plastic Pollution Prevention Programme in the Sea," the district administration has established two plastic exchange centers at Sugandha and Inani points in Cox's Bazar, along with another center on Saint Martin's Island.
Salahuddin called for united efforts to protect Cox's Bazar and Saint Martin's Island from environmental pollution.
He said. “Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martin’s are havens of natural beauty. Through collective action, we can safeguard them from environmental degradation. I believe this region can thrive with its natural resources if pollution is effectively prevented.”
