During the holy month of Ramadan, the world’s longest sea beach in Cox’s Bazar appears almost deserted. The usual crowds of tourists are missing, leaving the sandy shores empty. Among the few signs of activity are horses trotting across the beach, their riders patiently waiting for customers.
Ridwan, a horseman at the beach, shared his struggles: “Since Ramadan began, tourists have stopped coming. Business is slow, and I’m just waiting—hoping for a visitor to take a ride so I can earn something.”
It’s not just Ridwan—many small vendors along the shore are also anxiously waiting for tourists to return.
A visit to the beach reveals long rows of beach chairs set up for visitors, yet most remain unoccupied. From Shaibal Point to Seagull Point, out of nearly 500 chairs, only a handful are occupied by around ten tourists, highlighting the drastic decline in visitors this season.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
