Cox's Bazar Garjan Forest Faces Severe Deforestation and Sand Extraction
Cox's Bazar faces severe environmental challenges as illegal sand extraction and encroachment threaten the Garjan Forest. Meanwhile, broader data highlights significant national forest losses over two decades.
On August 16, 2026, fresh concerns emerged regarding the ongoing environmental degradation in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The region has been heavily impacted by illegal sand extraction, widespread encroachment, and continuous deforestation, all of which are actively damaging the vital Garjan Forest ecosystem. Local observations highlight that these destructive activities are taking place against a backdrop of complex inter-agency jurisdictional disputes among various government authorities.
Specific areas within the region have borne the brunt of this environmental strain. Notably, the Paglir Bil Road area—which is situated approximately 2.5 kilometres southeast of Dulahazara Bazar in Chakaria upazila—has been a focal point for these escalating concerns. The combination of unauthorized land usage and the illegal removal of natural resources continues to place immense pressure on the local landscape.
This localized crisis in Cox's Bazar unfolds within the context of severe, long-term national forest depletion across Bangladesh. According to comprehensive data provided by Global Forest Watch, Bangladesh lost around 9.4 thousand hectares of humid primary forest between the years 2002 and 2025. This sustained reduction in tree cover represents a major ecological challenge for the South Asian nation.
Further compounding the environmental outlook, statistical analysis reveals the striking extent of the overall shrinkage. The country's humid primary forests shrank by a notable 10 percent over the course of two decades. This measurable decline underscores the persistent vulnerabilities facing primary forested regions throughout Bangladesh amid ongoing human pressures.
Efforts to address these compounding crises are further complicated by institutional challenges on the ground. Specifically, inter-agency jurisdictional disputes among government authorities, including bodies such as the Forest Department and the Department of Environment, have hindered coordinated responses to the rampant deforestation and illicit resource extraction observed in places like the Garjan Forest.
