The 13th National Parliamentary Election is set to take place on Thursday, and Cox’s Bazar — the country’s premier tourist destination — now wears an unusually quiet look. With tightened security measures and voters returning to their respective hometowns to cast ballots, the beach town has become almost devoid of tourists.
During the winter season, Cox’s Bazar beach typically sees an overwhelming influx of visitors. However, in the days leading up to the election, tourist numbers have gradually declined. Hotels, motels, guesthouses, and resorts have reported relatively low bookings, as many visitors returned early to Dhaka and other districts to vote.
A visit to Kolatoli, Sugandha, and Laboni points — usually crowded in the afternoons — revealed an uncommon calm. Areas that normally left little room to walk were instead marked by silence and open stretches of sand.
Rashid Ahmed, a lifeguard on duty at the beach, said only a handful of tourists were seen visiting the shore on the day before the election.
Hotel operators said temporary transport restrictions and the tendency for people to return to their home constituencies ahead of polling have caused a short-term slowdown in the tourism sector. However, they remain optimistic that visitors will return to the seaside city once the election concludes.
The district administration of Cox’s Bazar has reinforced security measures to guarantee a peaceful and fair election. Tourism-related service providers are also coordinating their activities in line with the prevailing situation.
On the eve of the election, Cox’s Bazar presents a different picture — the waves still roll in, and the sea breeze still flows, but the familiar bustle is absent. For now, everyone’s focus is solely on tomorrow’s vote.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Sea Safe Lifeguard
