Cox’s Bazar, one of Bangladesh’s top tourist destinations, is witnessing a steady rise in visitors, yet safety measures for tourists remain largely absent. The lack of adequate safety arrangements has turned the beach into a potential danger zone, with incidents occurring frequently. Tragically, the number of drowning deaths is on the rise. In the first six months of this year alone, 11 tourists have lost their lives along the Cox’s Bazar beach, while 53 others had to be rescued during the same period.
A small number of lifeguards from a local non-governmental organization have been working to ensure safety along the beach, but due to financial constraints, this initiative is set to shut down by September. However, local administration officials have indicated plans to develop a sustainable safety initiative for tourists along the beach.
According to sources in the tourism sector and local administration, while the number of tourists has increased, the number of lifeguards has not. With the newly operational rail link, more visitors are arriving in Cox’s Bazar, which has led to a rise in incidents of tourists being swept away by the tide.
Currently, lifeguards operate across three points along the beach, monitoring the waters from five watchtowers and conducting rescue operations with nine ski tubes and a single rescue boat. They also engage in preventive measures such as raising red and red-yellow flags to indicate safe and unsafe swimming zones based on tidal movements and using whistles to alert tourists when they venture into risky waters.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
