The first housing project of the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority (CDA), ‘Swapnochura’, has officially begun its journey in a scenic, green setting surrounded by hills, just one and a half kilometres from the sea beach.
The project, officially titled ‘Residential Flat Development Project-1’, consists of four 15-storey buildings featuring a total of 339 apartments. More than 60 percent of the project area has been kept open to preserve a spacious and environmentally friendly residential atmosphere.
The housing project has been developed in the Adarshagram hill area along the bypass road near Kolatoli Beach in Cox’s Bazar. Home Minister and Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency lawmaker Salahuddin Ahmed formally inaugurated the project on Friday afternoon. Apartment keys were also handed over to the owners at the event.
Focus on Environment-Friendly Tourism
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government has undertaken various initiatives to transform Cox’s Bazar into a modern and well-planned tourism city.
He stressed that urban development should not turn the city into a congested concrete jungle. Instead, development must be carried out while preserving the natural environment and maintaining ecological balance.
According to the minister, environmentally friendly cottages, resorts, parks and recreational facilities should be developed following international examples, including Singapore’s model of planned urban development. Such initiatives, he said, could help attract more foreign tourists to Cox’s Bazar.
He also said the ‘Swapnochura’ project has provided 339 families with the opportunity to live in a more organised and pleasant environment. More environment-friendly housing projects will be undertaken in the future to address the city’s growing housing demand.
The minister further said work on the master plan for the overall development of Cox’s Bazar would be completed soon.
Living Close to the Sea and Hills
One of the major attractions of ‘Swapnochura’ is its location. Residents can enjoy views of the sea from the rooftops and balconies of the 15-storey buildings. The project is surrounded by green hills, while the sound of the waves can also be heard from the residential complex.
Several families have already started living in the new apartments. Residents say the new development offers a more comfortable and peaceful environment compared with the congested areas of Cox’s Bazar town.
Apartment owner Shahedul Islam said his family had previously lived in a crowded part of the city, where traffic congestion, difficulties in taking children to school and limited living space created daily challenges.
“Now we have the opportunity to live in a much better environment. The beach is also very close, so we can easily visit it whenever we want,” he said.
Another apartment owner, Kanak Sharma, said they had struggled for years with high rents and poor living conditions in the city.
“The reasonably priced apartments offered by the CDA have fulfilled our long-standing dream of having a secure and permanent home. We can now live with our children in a cleaner and healthier environment,” he said.
More Than 60 Percent of the Area Left Open
According to the CDA, the project comprises 339 apartments, with the price initially set at Tk 3,895 per square foot. Officials say the price is relatively affordable compared with prevailing market rates.
More than 60 percent of the total project area has been kept open. This has helped prevent excessive density despite the construction of high-rise buildings and created more space for a comfortable residential environment.
Modern Waste Management and Safety Facilities
The ‘Swapnochura’ project includes several modern residential facilities, with particular attention given to waste management and safety.
A garbage chute system has been installed to allow residents to dispose of waste through designated pipelines. The buildings also feature fire safety measures, spacious reception areas and sufficient internal circulation space.
Each tower has multiple staircases, along with emergency exit facilities to enable residents to evacuate quickly during emergencies.
Most of the apartments are oriented towards the southeast. The project is located close enough to the beach that residents can reach it on foot in approximately 10 minutes.
Project Completed After Seven Years
According to CDA officials, construction of the ‘Residential Flat Development Project-1’, popularly known as ‘Swapnochura’, began in mid-2019. The construction work was completed in June 2026.
The project is considered the CDA’s first major housing initiative in Cox’s Bazar and is expected to set a new example for planned and environment-friendly residential development in the tourism city.
CDA Chairman Engineer Mohammad Jasim Uddin said there is a growing need to provide safe and planned housing for low- and middle-income people.
“More housing projects will be undertaken in the future to ensure safe and affordable accommodation for people in these income groups,” he said.
Officials Attend Inauguration
An inauguration and apartment handover ceremony was organised at the CDA conference room on Friday morning.
CDA Chairman Engineer Mohammad Jasim Uddin presided over the event. Members of Parliament Shahjahan Chowdhury, Shamim Ara and Alamgir Md Mahfuz Ullah Farid, District Commissioner Md A. Mannan, Police Superintendent Sajedur Rahman and other senior officials were also present.
The CDA said future housing initiatives in Cox’s Bazar would place greater emphasis on environmental conservation, open spaces and essential civic facilities.
The authority expects such initiatives to contribute to making Cox’s Bazar a more organised, liveable and environmentally sustainable tourism city.
