Bleeding Rakhine: Environment and Biodiversity in Cox's Bazar under threat
Bangladesh government has proved itself as a humanitarian state in the world by sheltering the Rohingyas who have been the victim of brutal torture in history. The whole world knows about a different Bangladesh. Know that Bangladesh is not economically developed, but how the common man stands by the starving Rohingyas and proved their human qualities.
Bangladesh government has allocated a total of 6 thousand acres of mountains to provide shelter to the Rohingyas. A total of 11.18 thousand Rohingya refugees have been sheltered in 32 camps including Lada and Shaplapur in the district of Cox's Bazar and 8 in Balukhali of Ukhya, Kutupalang, Shafiullahkata, Palangkhali and Thaingkhali.
Moniruzzaman, a grocery store owner at Tamru border market in the district of Bandarban, showed a narrow hill, saying that thousands of Rohingyas took shelter in the 3,000-acre mountain before the allotment of 6,000 acres of land for the Rohingya refugee camp. And 10,000 acres of mountains are in the midst of the deadly disaster.
The Rohingyas started living on a school's hilly land by cutting down trees. A great of damage to the environment has been created as many trees have been cut down. But no one said them anything for humanitarian reasons. Later, the Rohingyas were taken to the registered camps. He said the damage to the environment is not to be fulfilled in another hundred years.
Asaduddin Khan, a school teacher from Ukhia, said that thousands of Rohingyas were now in the slopes of the Ukhya and Teknaf highways. He said, ‘there are still elephant-moving sign-board on the road but the elephant is far away, not even a Jackal movement could be seen in the area.
In this context, he added, the elephants of Bangladesh can cross the border to Myanmar or India because of the obstacles to the movement of wild elephants and the lack of necessary environment. Besides, the lack of environment may reduce the breeding capacity of wild elephants.
Jubilee Barua, from West Kutupalang Barua Para in Ukhia, said that when she walked out on the street earlier, she would see different wild animals. The silent road was free of movement of various animals including wild cock, Jackal, big cats. But the wild animals are no longer seen on the streets because of the shelter of Rohingya refugees. The wildlife sanctuary has been destroyed. There are now millions of helpless Rohingyas living there.
In September 2018, a study survey by the UNDP, titled ‘The Environmental Impact of Rohingya Influx,’ said that 4,300 acres of forest and mountains were cut off to shelter the Rohingyas in Ukhaya and Teknaf. Therefore, the environment, neighbourhood and biodiversity are under threat.|
The report said that the Rohingyas collect 6,800 tonnes of fuelwood per month from the forest. An average of 60 bamboos is needed to build a temporary shelter for each Rohingya family.
The report also said that the camps where Rohingyas are sheltered in Bangladesh are heading for severe environmental disaster. In the camp area of Teknaf in Ukhia, 83 per cent of the water has been contaminated. The level of water in the underground is going down alarmingly. Besides, the land is changing in the long run due to the mountain cutting.
The report said that 26,000 acres of forest land in the area are expected to be destroyed within the next 11 months due to the cutting of trees and the accumulation of fuel. The rich biodiversity of the region, especially elephants, can be permanently hindered. Other animals are also leaving the area.
According to the World Health Organization, a person needs 7 to 15 litres of water a day. 250 deep tube wells have been set up to provide water to the Rohingyas. As a result, the underground water level is also going down. The report said that this will change the landscape of the region in the long run. Because the Cox's Bazar area is by the sea but there is a shortage of sweet water. The overuse of surface water will create a water crisis for the local people and reduce the supply of water to the agricultural sector.