The Cox's Bazar sea beach has become a hotspot for the tourists during the Eid holidays as it is filled with massive crowd who are thirsty for travel.
However, despite the red flag being hoisted as a warning due to the formation of holes in the sea and the strong current, most tourists are ignoring it and entering the sea. As a result, 4 persons, including 3 tourists, have died in the last two days while bathing.
A visit to Sugandha Point in Cox's Bazar around 4 pm showed a huge crowd on the beach. More than 200,000 tourists gathered on the beach, which is about 3 kilometres long.
Tourists from different parts of the country have rushed to Cox's Bazar with their families on the occasion of the holidays. Some are jumping into the sea, while others are taking pictures or playing games on the sand.
Talking to BSS, Raisa Rahman, a tourist from Dhaka said she came to Cox's Bazar with her family because the Eid vacation is long. "The massive crowd and the liveliness of the beach increase the joy manifold," she said.
Another tourist, Abdullah Baki, said, "Cox's Bazar is a place where it feels new even after coming again and again. Beach bikes, jet skis, horse riding-all of them are having a wonderful time."
Rubina Alam said, "Marine Drive, Himchhari, Inani all places are scenic and very eye-catching. There can be no better place to spend the Eid vacation than Cox's Bazar."
Meanwhile, the sea has been rough for a few days. Holes have formed in some parts, and there is a pull of the opposite current in some places. Although red flags have been hoisted in the sea area informing about this risk, most tourists are ignoring it and going into the sea.
Sea-Safe Life Guard senior worker Mohammad Zahirul Islam said, "Our workers are performing their duties at three levels-surveillance from the tower, patrolling the sandbanks, and patrolling in boats in the water. However, it is important for tourists to be aware of safety."
Hotel and restaurant owners said that at least four lakh tourists will come to the beach for three consecutive days on June 9, 10 and 11. 95 percent of the rooms in more than five hundred hotels, motels, resorts, guesthouses and cottages in the city have already been booked in advance for these three days.
More than five lakh more tourists are likely to come in the seven days from June 12 to 19. 80 percent of the rooms have been booked for this period. In total, it is estimated that at least nine lakh tourists will come to the beach during the 10 days of the Eid holiday.
The maximum daily capacity of more than five hundred hotels, guesthouses, resorts and cottages in Cox's Bazar is one lakh 87 thousand. Various institutions, including hotels, restaurants and entertainment centres, have made preparations to welcome tourists even before Eid. However, there is no special discount on room rent.
Masudur Rahman, sub-inspector of the Cox's Bazar Zone of the Tourist Police, said, "More than two lakh tourists are staying on the beach. Therefore, security has been strengthened in the sand dunes, hotel-motel zones and entertainment spots.
The problems of the tourists are also being resolved quickly.'
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Salah Uddin said, "The administration and law enforcement agencies are making maximum efforts to ensue overall safety of tourists. Mobile courts are on the ground regarding the collection of additional rent."
Source: BSS
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
