With local cautionary signal No. 3 in force at Cox’s Bazar seaport, the sea remained rough while intermittent drizzle and overcast skies persisted throughout the day on Wednesday.
As the sun remained hidden, thousands of tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar from different parts of the country missed one of the beach’s main attractions — its sunset.
Drizzle began intermittently in Cox’s Bazar town and the surrounding areas on Wednesday morning.
The sky remained covered with thick clouds for most of the day.
As the sun failed to appear even in the afternoon, disappointment was visible among tourists who gathered at different points along the beach hoping to watch the sunset.
Tourists usually gather at Laboni, Sugandha, Kalatoli and other points of Cox’s Bazar beach in the afternoon to enjoy the sunset. Many arrive early and wait for the moment when the sun gradually disappears over the sea horizon. But on Wednesday, cloudy skies and rain deprived them of the much-anticipated sight.
Sumaiya Taiyum, a tourist who came to Cox’s Bazar with her family from Dhaka, said, “Watching the sunset was one of the main plans of our trip to Cox’s Bazar. We came to the beach in the afternoon and waited for quite a while. But because of the clouds, we could not even see the sun, let alone the sunset. It was a little disappointing.”
Another tourist, Sagar Hossain, said, “The beach looks gorgeous in the rain. But it feels bad that we could not see Cox’s Bazar’s famous sunset. The trip would have been more enjoyable if the weather had been better.”
Meanwhile, lifeguards have stepped up safety measures for tourists as the local cautionary signal No. 3 remains in force. With the sea rough, tourists have been advised to bathe cautiously and follow lifeguards’ instructions.
Mohammad Osman Gani, a senior member and supervisor of Sea Safe Lifeguard, said, “The sea is somewhat rough as local cautionary signal No. 3 is in force. Rain has also changed the movement of tourists on the beach to some extent. We are keeping tourists under constant observation and warning them not to enter risky areas. In particular, we are requesting tourists not to venture into deep water without following lifeguard instructions.”
“Sea conditions can change quickly when the weather is bad. So tourists need to give equal importance to their safety while enjoying their time here,” he added.
Despite the rain and cloudy weather, a considerable number of tourists were present on the beach.
Some enjoyed the waves while getting drenched in the rain, while others sat on the sandy shore and captured the cloudy sky and rough sea on their cameras.
Tourists, however, hope that the weather will soon improve, bringing sunshine back to the skies over Cox’s Bazar — and with it, another chance to witness the much-anticipated sunset over the world’s longest natural sandy sea beach.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
