A tall boundary wall is being built inside the reserved forest area of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, reportedly under a UNDP project funded by the World Bank. The wall, estimated to be about 10 feet high and roughly 1,000 feet in circumference, is being constructed near the 26 No. Shalbagan Rohingya camp in the Muchhni Beat area. Officials involved said the project aims to improve waste management for the camp, but local residents and forest officials fear it will severely harm the forest ecosystem and wildlife movement.

According to the Forest Department, the Teknaf range is home to around 286 species of wildlife, including monkeys, foxes, bears, elephants, and reptiles. Researchers and local forest guards warned that the new structure could further endanger biodiversity already under pressure from human settlement and deforestation. The divisional forest officer confirmed he was unaware of the project’s approval and cautioned that such construction could cause serious ecological damage.

Environmental experts stressed that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should have been conducted before any construction in the protected forest to prevent long-term harm to wildlife and natural habitats.