The local people of Cox’s Bazaar are facing huge pressure from the displaced Rohingya people, currently residing in Bangladesh territory. Locals claim that several economic and social sectors face existential threat.
The forest areas are being polluted and there is widespread pollution, they say.
UNO of Ukhia, Md. Nikaruzzaman Chowdhury, says: “a lot of local homes have gone under the control of the Rohingyas.”
There are around 11 lakh 16 thousand 417 Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazaar, Ukhia and Teknaf. The locals allege that Rohingyas have occupied around 6 thousand acres of forest area in Ukhia and Teknaf.
Forest worker, Kabir Ahmed, said that all forest and hill areas have been taken by the Rohingya people.
Education is being hampered since many of the schools have been requisitioned to be used for establishing barracks for security forces, medical teams and dining halls, he added.
Headmaster of Kutupalong Government Primary School says: “most of the class rooms are occupied in some way or the other, which is hampering education.”
Principal of Ukhia Degree College, Fazlul Karim, lamented: “the college field plus most class rooms are used to stock relief items for Rohingyas; this is impeding normal flow of education.”
Locals say that Rohingyas have cut almost all the hills and trees.
Divisional forestry head, Md. Ali Akbar, informed: “around 10 thousand acres are under the control of the Rohingya.”
Meanwhile, Cox’s Bazaar district administrator, Md. Kamal Hossain, said the the government has also extended support to the local people.
“They have been given food items, clothes, LP gas.”
The government has kept a vigilant eye on the general people of the district, he assured.