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Hundreds of illegal temporary shops have resurfaced on Cox's Bazar's Sugandha beach, exploiting the Eid-ul-Azha holiday when government offices were closed. This resurgence undoes a significant eviction drive that removed 930 illegal structures just three months prior.

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The court has sought an explanation from the administration, and officials said further eviction action would be taken only after responding to the court.

Following a directive from Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on March 9, joint forces dismantled 930 illegal structures at Sugandha Point on March 12. The minister had warned authorities to remain vigilant against reoccupation. Despite this, over 450 shops and structures were erected overnight during the Eid holiday, a period of limited monitoring. This renewed encroachment has cast doubt on the effectiveness of enforcement efforts.

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They claimed returning to the beach was their only option to sustain their livelihoods

Md Abdul Mannan, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, confirmed that the evicted shop owners had filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the demolition. The court has requested an explanation from the administration, and officials stated that further eviction actions will only proceed after responding to the court's query. No specific timeline has been set for clearing the beach.

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the illegal construction -- spreading to Sugandha, Kolatoli, Seagull Point, and even the protected Sagarlata (beach creeper) conservation zone -- is discouraging tourists and defying both the High Court and the home minister's orders.

In a related development, the district administration on Tuesday canceled all previously issued business permits for beach operations and announced that no new permits would be granted or renewed. However, DC Md Abdul Mannan described this measure as temporary. Several shop owners, speaking anonymously, cited financial hardship due to loans from NGOs and stated that returning to the beach was their only recourse for livelihood. Environmental organization Youth Environment Society (YES) Chairman Mujibul Haque warned that the illegal construction, now spreading to protected zones, discourages tourists and defies court and ministerial orders. The Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners Association also expressed concern, noting that the unplanned structures damage the beach's natural beauty and deter tourists.

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the unplanned structures are damaging the beach’s natural beauty and discouraging tourists from returning to one of the country's premier tourist destinations.