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The Department of Environment has issued final closure notices to 18 unauthorised resorts built along the edge of the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sardar Shariful Islam, deputy director of the Khulna divisional office of the Department of Environment, confirmed the development on Tuesday morning.
He said the resorts had previously been served two notices ordering them to shut down, but they failed to comply.
The latest notices were issued in writing to the resort owners on Sunday by Md Harun-or-Rashid, assistant director of the Department of Environment’s Khulna district office.
The notices said legal action would be taken under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended in 2010), and relevant rules. The measures could include mobile court operations, disconnection of electricity supplies and the filing of regular cases.
The resorts named in the notices are Sundari, Irabati, Aranyachhaya, Aranyabari, Keorabone, Mayaban, Gahon, The Forest Retreat, Nikunja Valley, La Silva Cottage, Bonbibi, Bonmali, Golokanan, Piyali, Mangrove, Jangalbari, Banabas and Banlata Eco Cottage.
Of the 18 resorts, 10 have been given 30 days and the remaining eight 15 days to remove all structures from the sites.