DHAKA: For flourishing the tourism industry in the country, the government is going to build up few new cities. At the very initiatives Cox’s Bazar is going to be taken up as the first one.
A source in the Prime Minister’s office has confirmed it.
The source informed that to build up a planned city one authority is needed. So in the model of Rajuk, a Cox’s Bazar development authority is going to be formed.
The short name of the Cox’s Bazar development authority has not yet been decided. The source, however, confirmed that it might be named as COUK or COXUK.
The source informed that it has been primarily approved by the cabinet to set up Cox’s Bazar development authority.
The framing of law for setting up Cox’s Bazar development authority was given to the Law ministry. Meanwhile the Law ministry has finalized the concerned law, the source told.
The final law is being scrutinized. The Law ministry is examining the law whether there is any loophole or not.
After examining, the Law ministry will send it to the Housing and Public Works ministry. Next after finalization, the Housing & Public Works ministry will send to the cabinet division for approval.
In the cabinet if it gets nod then the law will be placed in the Jatiya Sangsad in the form of a bill.
Then through a gazette notification, the area of the proposed city will be determined. Before that to build up the city there, opinions of the various segments of that area will be gathered.
Primarily it was not determined that how much area will come under this city. Anyway the city is being set up on a big area at the very beginning.
The source informed that at the beginning the tourist city is going to cover Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Teknaf, Chakaria and Maheshkahli.
After the formation of Cox’s Bazar Development Authority the construction of no infrastructure, no development work and no illegal infrastructure will be allowed.
The source told that for formation of Cox’s Bazar development authority the government has constituted a five member committee consisting of two representatives of Housing & Public Works and three representatives of Law ministries.
An inter-ministerial meeting has been convened on February 22 at Cox’s Bazar to finalize the process of forming the authority. The Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar will preside over the meeting.
In the meeting local administration, service organizations, Tourism Corporation, local police, tourism police, BGB, Navy, Air Force, civil aviation, Roads & Highways, PDB, Fire service, Local government & Engineering department, business organization representatives, local Mayor and president of press club will be invited.
If the DC desires then he can also invite more people and organizations.
On the basis of the opinion of the inter-ministerial meeting the term of reference of the Cox’s Bazar development authority will be finalized.
In that meeting the whole gamut of matters will be discussed about what to be done for building a new city and what not to be done next.
In the meeting the ministry of Housing & Works will place a complete plan on the proposed city.
The source informed that the government with the aim of flourishing the tourism sector has decided to set up Cox’s Bazar as a tourist city.
Government is very much aware so that this city does not become a city of slum. Cox’s Bazar development authority is going to be formed to set up a planned city.
The source told that the proposed city will be divided into different zones. There will be a separate zone for hotel-motel and restaurants.
Administrative, residential, commercial and industry areas will also be divided into different zones. The aesthetic beauty will not be hampered. The hill cutting will be strictly prohibited.
No work will be allowed to do in the respective areas except the ear-marked work. Industry and no commercial activities will be allowed in the residential areas.
The tourist city Cox’s Bazar will be built according to the final master plan. If anyone violates the master plan then he or they will be punished.
After building the Cox’s Bazar tourist city, the government has decided to build Kuakata, Rangamati and some more as tourist cities.
The proposal of making Kuakata as a tourist city has been primarily approved in the cabinet meeting. The process of formation of Kuakata development authority will start after the formation of Cox’s Bazar development authority.
BDST:1254 HRS, FEB 12, 2014
