Sonadia is a crescent island with an area of about 9 square kilometers. It
is the north-west of Cox's Bazar. Sonadia Island is very rich for different
kinds of shells. Thousands of fishermen camp here in Every winter and
make large hauls. Sonadia Island is famous for the industry of dry fish.
Area: 9 square km.
Location: 7-km north-west of Cox's Bazar.
Attraction: The sight of game birds migrating Sonadia Island in huge
numbers through the winter season.
Sonadia Island is a sanctuary for migratory birds such as petrels, snipe,
shanks, lapwings, geese and ducks and other waterfowl. According to
legend, a ship laden with gold sunk here centuries ago during an attack by
Portuguese pirates and an island formed around the shipwreck. It is only
seven kilometer from Cox’s Bazar and about nine square kilometer in area.
The western side of the island is sandy and different kinds of shells are
found on the beach. Off the northern part of the island, there are beds of
window pane oysters.
It was once renowned for pink pearls, but more profitable commercial
fishing has seen this tradition slowly fade away. During the winter, the
fisherman set up camp. And dry their catches of sea fish.