Cox’s Bazar’s tourist areas became crowded on Friday as tourists arrived during the weekly holiday despite a warning signal at the country’s seaports. From the afternoon, Kolatoli, Sugandha and Laboni points of the beach saw a growing number of tourists, with many enjoying the waves despite the rough sea.
During a visit to Kolatoli, Sugandha and Laboni points on Friday afternoon, tourists gathered along the beach. Some entered the water to enjoy the waves, while others sat on the shore and took in the coastal scenery. Many spent the holiday with family members, friends and relatives.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department requested the hoisting of local warning signal No. 3 at Cox’s Bazar and three other seaports. However, Cox’s Bazar did not experience any significant impact from the storm or rain on Friday. Most of the day remained sunny, while a brief spell of rain around noon did little to disrupt tourists’ activities.
The sea, however, remained rough because of the weather conditions. Lifeguards expressed concern about tourists entering areas where holes and channels have formed along the beach.
Sifat Majumder, a tourist who came to Cox’s Bazar for the weekly holiday, said, “I suddenly decided to come here with a friend without any prior plan. I was a little worried after seeing the weather warning. But eventually, we had a wonderful day.”
Another tourist, Razia Sultana, said, “The sea and the surroundings are wonderful. We also received excellent service at the hotel. The sea is simply beautiful.”
Lifeguard Ruhul Amin said thousands of tourists gathered at the beach on Friday, making their work challenging.
“There are holes and channels in different parts of the sea. We are warning tourists not to enter those areas, but many are ignoring our instructions,” he said.
He added that Seagull Point currently has no lifeguard service, where some tourists were also entering the water. “If lifeguard services are provided there, tourists’ safety can be ensured more effectively,” he said.
Hotel businesses also expressed satisfaction over the tourist turnout during the holiday. Sayeed Alamgir, public relations officer of Ocean Paradise, said, “As usual, we have seen a positive turnout of tourists during the weekly holiday. We have also received a positive response.”
Mermaid Beach Resort, an eco-friendly resort at Pechar Dwip along Marine Drive in Ramu, also reported a positive response. Resort manager Rana Karmakar said around 70 per cent of its rooms had been booked for the weekly holiday.
“As we are an eco-resort, we cannot offer 100 per cent of our rooms for booking. Some rooms are kept unavailable because of construction work and some as backup. Around 70 per cent of the available rooms have been booked,” he said.
The district administration was also monitoring the tourist areas to ensure safety and proper services. Md Mahmudur Rahman Sayem, assistant commissioner and executive magistrate of the tourism cell of Cox’s Bazar district administration, said tourist safety and proper management of the tourism sector remained their top priorities.
“We are monitoring the situation so that no one can charge tourists excessively or harass them in any way,” he said.
Although the warning signal did not stop tourists from visiting Cox’s Bazar during the weekly holiday, the rough sea has prompted lifeguards and authorities to urge tourists to stay cautious and follow safety instructions when entering the water.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
