Sea beach or kitchen market?
The sea beach at Patenga in the port city is gradually turning into a commercial place instead of a tourist spot. Shop owners and a section of hoodlums with the blessings and patronage of influential quarters, including ruling party men, continued to erect shops, hotels and other commercial establishments on the shore since long. The long lines of shops along the sea beach gives impression of the area more of a bustling kitchen market that block the natural vision of the beautiful beach. Visitors, especially teenage girls, often face stalking and harassment by youths and hoodlums. It is alleged that a former local minister played a role in leasing out the beach area to the shop owners, mostly BNP and JCD men.
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. PHOTO: Zobaer Hossain Sikder |
