Reju Khal along Cox’s Bazar’s Marine Drive takes on a different appearance as the first light of morning breaks. Calm waters, changing tides, and green casuarina trees and mangrove forests along both banks come together to create a striking natural scene.
In the soft morning light, the incoming tide adds a shimmering beauty to the water, while the receding tide reveals stretches of mud and sand along the channel. The changing landscape draws the attention of both local residents and tourists who come to enjoy the area’s natural surroundings.
But Reju Khal is more than a scenic spot. The waterway also supports the livelihoods of many people living in the surrounding areas.
At dawn, local fishermen head into the channel with boats and fishing gear. They work with the changing tides, catching fish as part of their daily struggle to earn a living.
Fishing is not the only source of livelihood. Many people also collect snails, algae and various types of seafood from the channel. They later sell the collected items at local markets and to restaurants in Cox’s Bazar town.
Local youth Shakil said Rejukhal’s natural beauty fascinates them, and the channel is also an important source of livelihood for many families.
“That is why protecting the channel and its surrounding environment is important,” he said.
With its natural beauty intertwined with the everyday lives and livelihoods of coastal communities, Rejukhal along Marine Drive offers a vivid reflection of life along Cox’s Bazar’s coast.
By Mohammad Morshed and Tareque Hasan
Photo: Tareque Hasan
