Watching the sunset from the beach is one of the main attractions for tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar. However, on Saturday (December 27), nature dashed that expectation as dense fog obscured the sky.
Although the sun appeared briefly at times during the day, it remained hidden from the afternoon onward, leaving thousands of tourists disappointed as they missed the much-anticipated sunset.
On Saturday evening, scenes along the Cox’s Bazar sea beach showed large numbers of visitors gazing at the sky. Some tried to capture photos on their mobile phones, while others waited patiently, hoping the fog would clear.
Eventually, however, they had to return without seeing the sunset.
Rashed Mahmud, a tourist from Dhaka, said, “I waited all day hoping to watch the sunset. That’s one of the main attractions of coming to Cox’s Bazar. Unfortunately, nothing was visible because of the fog. It’s disappointing, but no one can control nature.”
Mohammad Yusuf, a member of the Sea Safe Lifeguard team, said that foggy conditions prevented thousands of tourists from enjoying the sunset. “The intensity of winter has increased over the last three days, and fog has become much denser,” he added.
Cox’s Bazar has been experiencing a surge in tourists during the three-day break, combining Christmas and the weekly holidays.
With New Year’s Eve approaching, crowds across the city have grown even larger. However, the city has been experiencing a sudden increase in cold weather since Friday.
Abdul Hannan, Assistant Meteorologist at the Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office, said the district recorded a minimum temperature of 16.2 degrees Celsius early Saturday morning—the lowest this year.
The previous day, Friday, the minimum temperature was 17.5 degrees Celsius. He added that similar cold and foggy weather may persist for another two days.
Nazma Akter, a tourist who came from Chattogram with her family, said, “The cold is a bit intense, but the sea breeze feels refreshing. Even though we couldn’t see the sunset, the children are thoroughly enjoying themselves on the beach.”
Meanwhile, hotel and motel owners remain optimistic due to the high influx of tourists. Abul Kashem Sikder, president of the Hotel and Motel Owners Association, said, “With Christmas and the weekend combined, there are three consecutive holidays until the 27th. Added to the mix is the year-end on December 31, which has further increased tourist arrivals. Overall, we expect tourism-related businesses to surpass Tk 10 billion this season.”
Tourist police have also stepped up security measures. Cox’s Bazar Tourist Police Regional Additional DIG Apel Mahmud said ensuring tourist safety remains their top priority.
“Regular patrols and monitoring are ongoing. If any tourist faces harassment, they can call the helpline 01320160000 for immediate assistance,” he said.
Despite the fog and cold preventing a clear view of the sunset, Cox’s Bazar remains lively with festive energy and the constant rhythm of the waves, as visitors continue to create memories amid nature’s changing moods.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
