The soft light of dawn casts a golden hue on Cox’s Bazar beach. Amid the rhythmic roar of waves, the sound of hoofbeats rises — not from a stampede, but from a single horse trotting gracefully along the sand. His name is Bahadur. Running beside him, not riding, is his trusted companion, Abdul Rahim.
With a smile on his face, Rahim explains, “Sometimes I run alongside him to deepen our friendship.” It may sound playful, but in his eyes shines a sincerity that suggests this is no ordinary working relationship. For Rahim, Bahadur is more than a source of income — he is family.
Every morning, Rahim brings Bahadur to the beach, offering horse rides to tourists. But it’s not just a ride — it’s an experience.
“I never get on his back before the first tourist does,” Rahim says with a sense of respect. “It’s a rule I’ve kept — the rider should always be the guest.”
When asked how he arranges the rides, Rahim laughs and says, “However the tourist wants — short, long, slow, fast — I tailor the experience to them.”
Rates usually start at Tk 200 for a short ride, with longer excursions priced through friendly negotiation.
As we talk, two foreign tourists approach. Rahim greets them warmly and begins to explain — where the ride will go, how long it’ll take, how to safely mount Bahadur. His hospitality is effortless, his joy genuine.
For the tourists, it’s a moment of excitement — a novel ride across the beach. For Rahim and Bahadur, it’s a morning ritual, repeated yet ever unique.
Bahadur isn’t just a horse; he’s part of Rahim’s story, and by extension, part of the living, breathing tale of Cox’s Bazar. Together, they offer something that transcends transportation — a taste of connection, joy, and trust.
In a town filled with countless beachside moments, the quiet bond between Rahim and Bahadur stands apart — and therein lies its beauty.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Hussain Shetu
