Rein in the resort boom

The growing resort business around the Sundarbans, with little regard for its fragile ecosystem, is deeply worrying. Over the past seven or eight years, at least 21 resorts and cottages have sprung up along the forest in Khulna and Satkhira, while another 10 are reportedly being built. Concrete structures are being built by cutting trees and filling wetlands, while loud music, barbecue parties and uncontrolled tourist movement are disrupting the forest’s environment—all in areas where commercial construction is legally restricted.

The Sundarbans and its surrounding area were declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999, covering 10 kilometres from the forest boundary. However, none of the resorts reportedly obtained the necessary environmental clearance or registration from the district administration. Around 10 resorts have been built beside the Dhangmari canal, a declared dolphin sanctuary where endangered Gangetic and Irrawaddy dolphins are found. Tourist boats regularly use the canal, often without permission, while noise, bright lights, and waste from the resorts are affecting the surrounding ecosystem.  Some resorts reportedly continue to operate and take tourists inside the forest even when entry is prohibited during the June-August period.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The problem is not confined to the Sundarbans alone. In Bandarban, numerous resorts and cottages have been built by cutting hills and trees, while natural streams are reportedly being obstructed and water bodies polluted by plastic and untreated waste. The situation in Saint Martin’s is equally worrying. Despite being declared an ECA in 1999 and restrictions on construction, new resorts and cottages are reportedly being built by clearing keya forests, cutting coconut trees and using sand and limestone taken from the beach. And in Sonadia, after nearly 9,000 acres of forest land were allocated to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) in 2017 for an ecotourism park, large-scale clearing of the island’s mangrove forest began. Between 2017 and 2025, at least 6,000 acres were cleared for building shrimp enclosures. Such activities cannot continue.

We, however, welcome the Department of Environment’s recent order to stop the operation of 18 resorts around the Sundarbans and hope its directive will be enforced fully and without exception. The DoE has also warned of conducting mobile court operations in the areas. But clearly, eviction alone will not restore the forest ecosystem. The mangroves must be restored, natural tidal flows brought back and effective monitoring put in place to prevent renewed encroachment. The government must also take action against resort developers, irrespective of their political affiliation. More importantly, the government must establish and enforce clear rules for tourism in ecologically critical areas. It must act now to protect the Sundarbans, Bandarban, Saint Martin’s and other fragile ecosystems from the unchecked resort boom.