Dhaka, April 24 -- The government has announced nearly 12,000 acres of forestland in Cox's Bazar, previously allocated to various agencies, will be returned to the Forest Department.

Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said this on Thursday, warning that all illegal occupations of public land will be cleared.

Speaking to the media following a visit to the municipal garbage dumping site on the banks of the Bakkhali River, she said that steps will be taken to free Cox's Bazar's rivers, forests, and beaches from encroachment and pollution.

No construction will be allowed in Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) without proper authorisation. No government or private construction will be considered without approval from the Department of En...