Owners of resorts and restaurants along Marine Drive have called for the proposed master plan for Cox’s Bazar to address traffic congestion, parking, waste management, beach safety and emergency medical services.
They also urged authorities to ensure development benefits reach local small businesses and ordinary residents alongside large corporate investors.
The demands were made at a press conference organised by the Marine Drive Resort and Restaurant Owners Association at Cox’s Bazar Press Club on Sunday afternoon.
The association also expressed sorrow over the deaths of 10 tourists in a recent fire at TupTup Resort in Patuartek.
Reading out a written statement, association coordinator Md Sadek Rubel said around 500 resorts and restaurants operate along Marine Drive, providing direct and indirect livelihoods to about 5,000 people.
He said a crisis in the tourism business affects not only owners but also cooks, servers, cleaners, van drivers, and suppliers.
The statement called for consultations with local businesses before the government introduced new rules, safety measures or restrictions. It also urged authorities to conduct a survey and create a reliable database of tourism workers to protect and rehabilitate them during crises.
Emphasising fire safety, Rubel called for regular training for owners, managers and employees, with support from the Fire Service and experts. The training should include practical instruction on extinguishing fires, evacuating guests safely and providing first aid.
He said the Tuptup Resort fire should serve as a lesson for strengthening fire safety at hotels, resorts and restaurants. He added that business associations were ready to help coordinate such efforts.
Association leaders Zainal Abedin Jewel, Md Khurshid Alam, Abu Amir and Jahangir Alam also spoke at the press conference.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
