Holidaymakers defy rain and rough seas

There was hardly any space to step foot at Sugandha Beach in Cox's Bazar yesterday as it was packed with holidaymakers. Some played in the sand, some dived into the sea, while others enjoyed horse riding or jet-ski rides. Smiles and joy were visible on every face as a light drizzle added to the thrill.

In the afternoon, standing on the crowded beach, Osman Gani, supervisor of Sea Safe Lifeguard, estimated that nearly 100,000 people were present. "Due to a low-pressure system, the sea is rough. That's why we are repeatedly requesting tourists not to go too deep into the water. We are keeping a close watch to prevent any accidents," he said.

Heavy rain began in Cox's Bazar in the morning. Although the rainfall lessened as the day progressed, the Met Office issued local cautionary signal number three. The waves in the sea also remained rougher than usual.

Despite the warnings, thousands of tourists from across the country flocked to Cox's Bazar to spend their holidays during the Durga Puja festival and the extended weekend.

Nusrat Jahan, a tourist from Dhaka, said, "The weather may be bad, but for us it's a different kind of joy. Watching the sea in the rain is an extraordinary experience. However, it was really tough to manage a hotel room."

Israfil Hossain, a visitor from Durgapur in Rajshahi, said he came with a group of 45 family members and friends. "We somehow managed to book seven rooms, and all of us are crammed in. There is hardly any space to move around inside."

Hotel owners said such crowding has now become common during holidays. Mukim Khan, general secretary of the Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners' Association, said, "This year's Puja and the long holiday have brought an extraordinary influx of tourists. Almost all hotel rooms are sold out. Without advance booking, it is practically impossible to get a room."

Abu Morshed Chowdhury, president of the Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce, said the beach town has around 500 hotels and motels. "Right now, finding a room is extremely difficult. But neither we nor the administration have exact data on how many tourists come during such festivals. That's why it's hard to determine the exact scale of business. Still, we expect business transactions worth several hundred crore taka during this puja holiday period."

Meanwhile, the administration has imposed a ban on entering the sea due to rough weather.

Apel Mahmud, additional DIG of Tourist Police (Cox's Bazar region), said, "Adequate police are present at various points of the beach. CCTV monitoring has been increased, and patrols have been intensified to ensure safe travel for tourists."