Kuakata beach, known as the “Daughter of the Sea”, is a seaside beach that offers both sunrise and sunset. Located in the southern district of Patuakhali, the sea beach is one of Bangladesh’s leading tourist attractions. But its sandy shoreline has been shrinking steadily. Coastal erosion, environmentally destructive activities, poor management, pollution, and encroachment are gradually reducing the beach area and diminishing the beauty of the entire coastline. Biodiversity is also under threat, while tourists and local residents are increasingly facing accidents caused by various management failures. Due to prolonged erosion and inadequate management, one of the country’s most attractive tourist destinations is gradually losing its appeal.
The impacts of climate change, tidal surges, high tides, and natural disasters have intensified land erosion and shoreline degradation in different sections of the beach. Coastal sand loss caused by powerful waves from the Bay of Bengal, destruction of mangrove forests, and indiscriminate deforestation by beneficiaries of protected forest areas have made the coastline increasingly vulnerable over the past several decades. Nearly 2.5 kilometres of forest land have disappeared into the sea over the last three decades. Kuakata beach, in particular, has experienced severe erosion since 2010. Since then, more than 2,000 metres of beachfront have been lost to the sea. The shoreline has shrunk to such an extent that during high tide, there is virtually no space left for walking, as the entire beach goes underwater.
To protect the beach from erosion, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) installed geo-tubes and geo-bags along the coastline. But these structures have become a source of danger for tourists. Field observations show that the geo-tubes and geo-bags have created numerous hazardous pits of varying sizes. These pits have effectively become traps for visitors. People of different age groups are slipping on algae-covered geo-bags while bathing during high tide and are falling in accidents.
When the tide recedes, the beach reveals a devastated landscape. Water ranging from knee- to waist-deep remains in various pits. The high and low holes make normal movement difficult for visitors. Concrete debris and steel rods from damaged structures are scattered across different parts of the beach, causing regular accidents involving tourists, local residents, and fishermen. Plastic waste and other debris have become lodged in layers of geo-bags and around damaged structures. Many tourists, especially first-time visitors, enter the water during high tide without any awareness of the hazards and fall victim to unexpected accidents. There are no warning signs, awareness boards, or emergency markers on the beach to alert visitors to these dangers.
Local resident Abul Hossain said, “The dumping of waste in different parts of the beach, destruction of vegetation, and neglect of the environment are disrupting the natural balance. Kuakata is consequently losing its natural beauty and biodiversity day by day.”
Kawser Hamid, member secretary of the Kuakata Beach Management Committee and upazila nirbahi officer, said, “The geo-tubes and geo-bags currently being used for beach protection were originally designed for riverbank protection. Similar structures specifically designed for coastal protection are needed. This temporary measure is now helping to reduce some sand erosion. A project proposal has already been submitted to address the difficulties faced by tourists at the beach’s Zero Point. If approved, it’ll help protect the beach more effectively.”
Residents complain that despite various projects and budget allocations for beach protection announced from time to time, there remains a lack of sustainable and visible action on the ground. According to experts, Kuakata’s coastline has long been vulnerable to erosion.
Dr Md Nurul Amin, professor of the Department of Environmental Science at Patuakhali Science and Technology University, said, “As a new management approach, a beach nourishment project could be undertaken following the model used in the Netherlands for coastal protection.”
Experts believe that while the use of geo-bags has provided temporary relief against the increasing erosion of Kuakata Sea Beach, it is not a sustainable long-term solution. Dr Md Tariqul Islam Shajib, assistant professor of the Department of Disaster Risk Management at Patuakhali Science and Technology University, said, “Despite refilling geo-bags every two years at a cost of millions of taka, they eventually rupture and lose their effectiveness. It’s essential to identify a more durable and cost-effective alternative. Environmentally friendly mangrove afforestation could be a good option for preventing coastal erosion. But since this is a tourist destination, a large-scale mangrove plantation across the entire beach wouldn’t be feasible. An alternative could be the construction of modern groynes, similar to those used in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Such structures have also been built along the Padma River in Rajshahi.”
He added that they are currently conducting research on the erosion of Kuakata Beach. “As part of the ongoing study, we’re using GIS and remote sensing technologies to identify erosion-prone coastal hotspots. Addressing this crisis will require not only government investment but also stronger monitoring and more integrated research efforts. Above all, local communities should be directly involved in coastal management so that they feel ownership of the projects and engage themselves in protecting the beach.”
K Bachchu, convener of the Coastal Environment Protection Movement in Kuakata, told Bonik Barta, “Special emphasis must be placed on maintaining environmental balance if Kuakata’s tourism potential is to be preserved. Without a planned coastal protection policy, there’s a risk that several important areas of Kuakata could soon be lost to the sea. Some sections of the embankment along the coastline are also now visibly at risk.”
A Development Project Proposal (DPP) titled “Kuakata Sea Beach Protection and Development” is currently under process to provide a permanent solution for protecting the beach. Md Shah Alam, executive engineer of the Kalapara Water Development Division under the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), told Bonik Barta, “A DPP worth around BDT 7.59 billion has been submitted to the Planning Commission and has already been reviewed through a feasibility assessment conducted by the IWS authority. The project design is currently undergoing vetting by the Board’s Design Department. Once the vetting process is completed, the DPP will be resubmitted based on the approved design.”
Local tourism stakeholders, meanwhile, believe that the existing administrative framework is insufficient for improving visitor services, maintaining order on the beach, and ensuring round-the-clock monitoring. They have called for Kuakata to be brought under a dedicated tourism-based development authority similar to that of Cox’s Bazar.
Stakeholders say that integrating Kuakata’s regional economy with national economic growth will require coordinated investments from both the public and private sectors. If environmentally friendly infrastructure and adequate facilities are ensured for investors, Kuakata will be able to make a significant contribution not only to the local economy but also to national revenue generation, they also argue.
When asked about the overall condition of Kuakata Beach, Dr Mohammad Shahid Hossain Chowdhury, deputy commissioner (DC) of Patuakhali, told Bonik Barta, “The administration is working in a planned manner to achieve sustainable long-term development in both the environment and tourism sectors. The government is emphasising protecting the coastal environment. Following the Japanese Miyawaki method for rapid forest development, initiatives have also been taken to recover encroached government land and establish Miyawaki forests in Kalapara Upazila of the district. Apart from these initiatives, to preserve Kuakata’s natural beauty and promote the tourism industry, the ‘Payra–Kuakata Comprehensive Plan Focusing on Eco-Tourism’ has been adopted, covering seven upazilas surrounding Kuakata. Under this master plan, the government has already announced an Action Area Plan.”
ABM Mosharraf Hossain, member of parliament for Patuakhali-4, told Bonik Barta regarding the protection of Kuakata Beach, “A project worth approximately BDT 7.50 billion is currently in process. Once implemented, the project will play a significant role in preserving Kuakata’s natural environment.”