Tourists in Cox’s Bazar are increasingly opting for open-top buses to explore the scenic 80-kilometre Marine Drive stretching from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf.
The route, one of the country’s most scenic, has hills on one side and the sea on the other. It also connects several popular tourist attractions, including Himchari, Rezu Khal, Inani, Patuartek and Sabrang Zero Point.
Officials of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation said that two open-top tourist buses depart daily at 9:00 am from the Sugandha point of Cox’s Bazar sea beach, carrying visitors along the Marine Drive.
Each bus has a total seating capacity of 131, including 67 seats on the upper deck and 64 on the lower deck. The fare is set at Tk 700 per person for the upper deck and Tk 600 for the lower deck.
A visit to the ticket counter at Sugandha point showed long queues of tourists waiting to secure seats on the open-top buses.
Several tourists said that travelling along the Marine Drive by other means—such as electric three-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, tourist jeeps or private cars—usually costs between Tk 2,000 and Tk 7,000. The open-top bus service, however, has made the trip more affordable, allowing more visitors to enjoy the journey at a lower cost.
BRTC Cox’s Bazar technical chief Iqbal Hasan Bandhan said that the buses make multiple stops along the route, allowing tourists to explore key destinations. These include Himchari for 30 minutes, Dulahazra beach area for 30 minutes, Inani beach for 30 minutes, Patuartek beach for one hour and Sabrang Zero Point for 30 minutes.
The buses return to Cox’s Bazar town at around 5:30 pm.
He added that tourist interest in the open-top buses has surged during the Eid holidays, with both buses running at full capacity on the festival day and the following day.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Courtesy
