Along the shores of Cox’s Bazar, a unique natural attraction is increasingly attracting tourists—an unusual marine stone adorned with intricate, honeycomb-like patterns. These white, porous stones are, in fact, dead corals, commonly known as coral stones, and are now on tourists’ preferred souvenir lists.
Displayed neatly in souvenir and gift shops around the beach area, the coral stones are drawing curiosity and interest from tourists eager to take home a piece of their seaside experience. Shopkeepers explain that these stones originate from corals that once grew deep in the sea. After dying naturally, fragments break off under the force of ocean waves and eventually wash ashore. Collected from the beach, the stones are then cleaned, dried, and prepared for sale.
Thanks to their natural designs and lightweight structure, coral stones are popular as decorative showpieces, aquarium ornaments, or gift items. Many tourists say the rocks offer a distinctive and meaningful reminder of their visit to Cox’s Bazar, different from conventional souvenirs.
However, environmentalists urge caution. They warn that collecting or damaging live corals poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems. The emphasis, they stress, must remain strictly on the use of corals that have died naturally and washed ashore, rather than harvesting living reefs.
Stakeholders believe that with proper environmental awareness and responsible practices, these marine remnants can contribute positively to Cox’s Bazar’s tourism industry—balancing natural beauty with ecological responsibility.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
