A 20-year-long master plan to transform the most popular tourist destination of the country Cox’s Bazar into a modern and smart city is likely to be initiated in August.

Cox’s Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA) said this to the media at a views-exchange meeting held at its office on July 22.

Speaking on the occasion, Commodore (retd) Muhammed Nurul Absar, Chairman of CoxDA, said, “We’re working to formulate a master plan for 20 years – from 2023 to 2043 – to transform Cox’s Bazar into a smart city. The formal work to this end will start in August.”

Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher also spoke at the programme.

A detailed area plan is also being formulated to ensure a planned development for an attractive and environment-friendly Cox’s Bazar.

This master plan is being formulated following the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, explained the Chairman of CoxDA.

The Prime Minister wants to transform Cox’s Bazar into a global hub of tourism and aviation by developing a dedicated tourist attraction for foreigners, and a state of the art international airport with the longest and only marine runway in the country, said the Chairman of CoxDA.

He further mentioned the master plan includes formulating strategic policy plans, detailed area plans of all the upazilas and beach areas of Cox’s Bazar (690.67 sqkm), as well as tourism and regional development plans.

Disaster management, preparing a Smart City Model for Cox’s Bazar, transport management, environment management, drainage and sanitation management, utilities and socio-economic development and sectoral plans are also the key features of the master plan.

To support the Vision 2041 announced by the government to turn Bangladesh into a developed country with high income, the CoxDA is undertaking several development projects.

The projects include cable car installation from Cox’s Bazar to Sabrong and Cox’s Bazar to Moheshkhali, introducing watersports and other amusement facilities on the sea beach, indoor amusement park, CoxDA Marina Bay Resort, CoxDA Condominium Project, Eco-resort in Moheshkhali, protecting lives and boosting marine tourism, preparing a roadmap to tap potential of the blue economy, renewable energy project, installation of central sewerage treatment plant (STP), water treatment plan and introducing sea-plane, cruise ship and helicopter service and preparing integrated coastal zone management plan.

“Once the projects are completed, they can immensely contribute to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals,” he claimed.