Dead whale washes ashore in Kutubdia, stench spreads despite being buried

A dead whale has washed up on the West Beach of Kutubdia upazila in Cox's Bazar on Saturday (7 March).

Local residents and officials initially buried the whale in the sand dunes, but it later resurfaced as it swelled, spreading a stronger stench.

According to local sources, fishermen initially spotted the giant mammal floating in the Bay of Bengal and attempted to tow it closer to the shore with ropes.

However, due to advanced decomposition and the unbearable stench, they left it to drift, and tidal waves eventually pushed it onto South Dhurung union's shore.

Alauddin Al Azad, chairman of South Dhurung union parishad, said fishermen first spotted the whale while fishing in the Bay of Bengal and later towed it towards the Kutubdia coast using several trawlers.

"By that time the whale was already dead and emitting a strong stench, so the fishermen left it floating in the sea," he said.

Azad said the matter was reported to the upazila administration and relevant authorities, but no officials arrived immediately. Considering the public inconvenience, locals dug a pit in the sand dunes and buried the whale after about an hour of effort.

The Chairman claimed the whale was buried 8-10 feet deep, locals alleged the pit was only about a foot deep, causing the sand to wash away during high tide.

He added that the strong stench has made it difficult to find workers to handle the carcass, and no government agency has taken effective action so far.

Forest Department official Abdur Razzaq said the matter does not fall under their jurisdiction.

Mahbub Alam, Kutubdia upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), who is currently in additional charge, the whale resurfaced repeatedly after burial due to swelling.

"The whale is extremely large. Even after burial it is swelling and coming back to the surface, causing a strong stench," he said.

The UNO said the local chairman had been asked to arrange an excavator to cut the carcass into smaller pieces for proper burial, but the strong stench has made it difficult to find workers.

He added that residential areas within about 1.5km of the site are being affected as the foul smell spreads with the wind, causing severe inconvenience to residents.

When asked if any samples were collected from the whale, the UNO said he was unaware of any such step.

Nazmul Huda Sakib, union parishad member, said the carcass's stench has spread over 2-3km, disrupting residents' daily activities.