For years, lifeguards have been safeguarding Cox’s Bazar—the world’s longest sea beach—ensuring the safety of millions of tourists who flock there each year.
However, due to a severe funding crunch, this vital service may shut down by September, raising growing concerns over visitor safety.
Most local and foreign tourists remain unaware of how dangerous the sea can be. For them, lifeguards serve as the sole means of protection.
Yet the people who save lives in the waves may soon have to stop their operations.
Tourists expressed worry over the situation, stressing that lifeguards play a crucial role in beach safety and that funding should not be discontinued.
The UK-based RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) has sponsored the lifeguard program since 2014. However, with the donor withdrawing support, the service now faces closure.
Imtiaz Ahmed, Field Team Manager of SEA SAFE Lifeguards, said, “We need more than 100 lifeguards and proper deployment across 10–12 points along the beach. If this service shuts down, Cox’s Bazar will become unsafe for visitors.”
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
