The government has taken major steps to strengthen border security and strategic military capabilities in the southeastern part of the country. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved an infrastructure development project at a cost of Tk 1,311,530,000 to develop Ramu Cantonment in Cox's Bazar as a modern and complete military facility.
The project was approved in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tariq Rahman at the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission in Sherbangla Nagar of the capital last Wednesday. In the second ECNEC meeting of the current financial year, 10 projects were approved at a total cost of Tk 9,333,580,000. Among them, this project of defense infrastructure development is of special importance.
At the end of the Eknek meeting, the Minister of State for Planning. Jonaid Abdur Rahim Saki said that currently there are not enough housing facilities for more than 8 thousand army personnel in Ramu cantonment. Apart from removing this deficit through the new project, the overall infrastructure of the cantonment will be modernized. The project will be implemented with full government funding.
According to the documents of the Planning Commission, the project initiated by the Ministry of Defense will be implemented by the Army Headquarters, Engineer in Chief Branch, Works Department and related military authorities. The implementation period of the project is from July 2026 to June 2030.
A large amount of residential and non-residential infrastructure will be constructed under the project. This includes about 1 lakh 35 thousand 883 square meters of residential buildings and 6 thousand 158 square meters of non-residential buildings.
Apart from this, there will be about 25 km of drainage structure, 11 tube wells, health care and water supply system, telecommunication equipment, construction of other necessary buildings and infrastructure and land development work for water drainage. The project also plans to procure computers and other equipment, electrical equipment, fire fighting equipment and furniture.
The issue of Ramu's hilly topography and environment has also gained importance in the implementation of the project. In the Eknek meeting, Prime Minister Tariq Rahman ordered the construction of buildings keeping the existing topography intact without cutting the mountains and leveling them. Instructions have also been given to design the building taking into account the normal height and topography of the land.
Due to its geographical location, Ramu is very important in the security system of Cox's Bazar and the southeastern region of the country. Apart from Cox's Bazar, Ramu is connected with a large area of Chittagong Hill Tracts. At the same time, it is close to the country's south-eastern border and important areas adjacent to the Bay of Bengal, so it is of special military strategic importance.
Ramu Cantonment currently has the headquarters of 10 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army. Various publications of the Bangladesh Army also mention the activities of the 10th Infantry Division at Ramu.
In recent years, there have been concerns about Myanmar's internal conflict in the southeastern border areas of Bangladesh, the activities of armed groups along the border, illegal arms and drug trafficking, human trafficking, and various security risks. At the same time, the security situation of Chittagong Hill Tracts and the possibility of any instability in the border areas are also important issues in Bangladesh's security plan.
In such a reality, the decision to strengthen the infrastructure of Ramu Cantonment is seen as an important step to increase the defense capability and strategic readiness of the South-Eastern region. However, the approved documents of the project do not mention taking action against any particular neighboring country or armed group. Rather, its declared main goal is to protect the country's sovereignty from external enemy attacks, strengthen the defense system and build modern military infrastructure.
The news of such a big investment by the government in modernization including infrastructure development of Ramu cantonment has created relief and excitement among the people of Cox's Bazar and Ramu. Locals expect better military infrastructure as well as cantonment-centric education, medical, communication and other civic amenities will also have a positive impact on local economy and public life.
According to locals, Cox's Bazar is not only a tourist town; Due to its geographical location, it is also an important strategic region of the country. As a result, the modernization of Ramu cantonment will further consolidate the security system of the south-eastern region and also increase the overall importance of Cox's Bazar.
It has also been said on the recommendation of the Planning Commission that it will be possible to develop the Ramu cantonment as a full-fledged military structure of modern quality by constructing necessary buildings and modern facilities.
According to those concerned, with this approval of ECNEC, not only the launch of an infrastructure project, but the implementation of a long-term plan to take the defense infrastructure of the southeastern part of the country to a new level has started. If the project is implemented in the next four years, there will be visible changes in the capacity, housing, communication, health, water, telecommunication and other support facilities of Ramu cantonment.
Concerned people think that this modernization of Ramu cantonment is significant for the entire south-eastern region including Cox's Bazar in terms of border security, sovereignty protection and regional stability.
দেশের দক্ষিণ-পূর্বাঞ্চলের সীমান্ত নিরাপত্তা ও কৌশলগত সামরিক সক্ষমতা জোরদারে বড় ধরনের পদক্ষেপ নিয়েছে সরকার। কক্সবাজারের রামু সেনানিবাসকে আধুনিক ও পূর্ণাঙ্গ...
dailyinqilab.com