The High Court on Tuesday stayed a controversial lease agreement involving over 8,000 acres of forest land on Sonadia Island in Cox鈥檚 Bazar, including 2,712 acres designated as an ecologically critical area.
The agreement, signed on May 27, 2017, between the Cox鈥檚 Bazar district administration and the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA), aimed to establish an eco-tourism park, has drawn sharp criticism for its potential environmental damage.
The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury issued the stay order in response to a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association.
The association challenged the legality of the lease, citing the need to safeguard the island鈥檚 forest and its fragile ecosystem.
The court directed the government to take immediate measures to protect the forest land and ecology.
It specifically instructed the Cox鈥檚 Bazar deputy commissioner to halt all tree cutting and shrimp farming activities in the ecologically sensitive area.
Additionally, the High Court ordered an assessment of the damage to 4,916 hectares of ecologically critical area and the total 8,001.70 acres of forest land on Sonadia Island.
The authorities have been tasked with formulating a recovery plan and submitting a report within six months.
The bench also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the lease agreement should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.
It further sought explanations as to why the forest land and the ecologically critical area should not be handed back to the forest department to ensure proper protection, restoration, and sustainable management.
The court emphasised the need for legal action against individuals and entities responsible for damaging the island鈥檚 ecosystem.
It directed the government to assess the ecological and biodiversity loss and pursue compensation from the offenders.
The respondents to the rule include the secretaries of the environment, forest, and climate change, and land ministries; the chairman of BEZA; the chief conservator of forests; the director general of the Department of Environment; the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Cox鈥檚 Bazar; the divisional forest officer of the Chattogram Coastal Forest Department; and local administrative officials from Maheshkhali upazila.
This ruling underscored the critical importance of protecting Sonadia Island, a vital habitat for diverse wildlife and a key part of Bangladesh鈥檚 natural heritage.
Environmentalists have long warned that unchecked development in such sensitive areas risks devastating long-term consequences for the region鈥檚 biodiversity and climate resilience.
