Authorities yesterday demolished a four-storey resort building in Ukhiya’s Inani during a joint drive against unauthorised hotels and resorts along Cox’s Bazar’s Marine Drive.
The drive came days after a fire at the three-storey TupTup Resort near Patuartek beach killed 10 tourists on October 17. Led by the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA), the drive began in the afternoon.
CoxDA Secretary Sanjida Begum said the building had been constructed in violation of existing laws and regulations. Its owner had received four demolition notices but failed to take effective action, she added.
However, owner Shahidul Haque claimed he began construction in 2014 after obtaining permission from the union parishad.
He had planned to inaugurate the resort soon.
Shahidul claimed he had responded to all four notices and possessed the necessary documents, but the authorities had ignored them.
CoxDA Chairman Engineer Mohammad Jasim Uddin said numerous resorts, cottages and restaurants had been built along both sides of the 80-km Marine Drive, many without the required approvals.
He said the drive was launched after owners failed to remove unauthorised structures despite repeated notices, adding that such establishments would not be allowed to remain.
Since CoxDA’s establishment in 2016, around 1,700 building plans have been approved across Cox’s Bazar district, including the municipality area, he said.
Despite restrictions on infrastructure development along Marine Drive, around 2,500 structures have been built there, including more than 200 hotels, resorts and cottages. Apart from a few star-rated establishments, most lack valid approvals, he added.