In Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh, Maheshkhali is an Upazila. It is also known as the bowl island of Cox’s Bazar and is the only hilly island in Bangladesh. Maheshkhali Island is another name for it. This Upazila is located approximately 15 kilometers from Cox’s Bazar’s district headquarters. To the northwest of this Upazila is the Kutubdia channel and Kutubdia Upazila; to the northeast is Pekua Upazila; formerly the Maheshkhali Channel, Chakaria Upazila, and Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila; to the southeast is Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila, and to the south is the Bay of Bengal.
As of 15 December 1983, Maheshkhali Thana has been elevated to the status of an Upazila. Three other small islands are included in the Maheshkhali Upazila. They are Sonadia, Matarbari, and Dhalghata. Maheshkhali Upazila has one municipality and eight unions at present. Under the jurisdiction of Maheshkhali Thana, all administrative activities are conducted in Maheshkhali Upazila.
There are two paved roads connecting the north and south of Maheshkhali Upazila. With the construction of the Badarkhali Bridge, Maheshkhali is directly connected to the mainland. A distance of 25 kilometers separates Badarkhali Bridge from the Upazila Headquarters. There are approximately 168 roads totaling 282 kilometers in length. A total of 91 kilometers of paved roads and 191 kilometers of unpaved roads are included in this figure. Therefore, it is possible to travel by road to Maheshkhali from anywhere in Bangladesh. There are Jeeps, autorickshaws, trucks, and tempos on the roads. Cox’s Bazar to Maheshkhali waterway is a notable waterway with a length of 7 kilometers. There are cargo trawlers, speedboats, passenger launches, and boats plying the waterways.
In Maheshkhali Upazila, the Adinath Mela is one of the most popular folk festivals. It usually begins on the first day of the Falgun month and lasts for ten to fifteen days. The fair features local products. It is common to purchase and sell clay or bamboo-cane products to match pots, jugs, sleeves, pots, iron pots, etc. A lot of fun stuff happens at the fair, like plays, processions, circuses, puppet shows, etc.
A lot of stuff is produced in Maheshkhali Upazila, like betel nuts, fish, dried fruit, shrimp, salt, and pearls. There’s a lot of salt and betel trade on the island. It’s a thriving industry, with marine fishing and shrimp farming. The traditional business and profession is betel cultivation. During the dry season, locals and foreigners flock to this island for sea fishing. Mineral sand and natural gas are also there.
Maheshkhali used to be a grazing ground for elephants, tigers, deer, monkeys, bears, snakes, migratory birds, and native birds. Due to population growth and indiscriminate forest destruction and the prying eyes of a class of unscrupulous poachers, Maheshkhali’s biodiversity is about to disappear. The winter season is currently marked by the presence of deer, monkeys, a few snakes, and a few migratory birds. Tourists will find this to be an excellent recommendation.
