Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central assistant secretary general Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad said that if the long-term master plan prepared by MIDAS is implemented, Cox’s Bazar could become one of South Asia’s major economic hubs. He made the remarks on Monday at a discussion titled “Law and Order Situation and Development Vision of Cox’s Bazar,” organized by the district Jamaat at its office.

Dr. Azad criticized the government for prioritizing partisanship over promised reforms, good governance, and accountability. He described the current budget as debt-dependent and unrealistic, citing an ambitious revenue target of about 6.9 trillion taka despite past shortfalls. He also highlighted environmental and infrastructural problems in Cox’s Bazar, including the absence of a sewage treatment plant, unclean beaches, and mismanagement in tourism.

He further emphasized the urgent need for a sustainable embankment in Kutubdia to protect 150,000 residents, along with ferry services and jetty repairs. Azad identified traffic congestion, road accidents, salt syndicates, lack of higher education institutions, and the pressure of 1.5 million Rohingya refugees as major challenges to the district’s development and security.