A continuous 4-day public holiday has been announced to celebrate Durga Puja, Fatiha-i-Yazdaham, Lakshmi Puja, and Probarana Purnima. Students nationwide enjoy an extended 11-day break, with schools and colleges closed until October 19.
Despite political instability and challenges such as floods in various parts of the country, Cox’s Bazar expects a large influx of tourists starting Thursday, October 10, as the Bengali Hindu community celebrates Durga Puja, their largest religious festival.
On October 9, a visit to the star-rated hotels in Cox’s Bazar revealed that most rooms have already been booked. However, staff at some mid-range hotels mentioned that a few rooms are still available, but they are likely to be filled soon.
To accommodate the increased demand, railway authorities have arranged a special passenger train on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route from October 10 to 13, during the Durga Puja holidays.
Al Asad Md Mahfuzul Islam, Superintendent of Police for Cox’s Bazar Tourist Police, assured that they are fully prepared to ensure tourist safety, with plainclothes officers, mobile teams, and drones deployed. The Tourist Police also coordinate with the army, district administration, and local police to ensure a secure environment for all tourists.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
