With a four-day holiday ahead for Durga Puja, domestic tourists have already started flocking to Cox’s Bazar.
The government has declared October 1 (Wednesday) as a public holiday for Mahanabami, followed by October 2 (Thursday) for Bijoya Dashami. With October 3–4 (Friday and Saturday) being weekends, government employees will enjoy a four-day break. Many have chosen to head to Cox’s Bazar early to make the most of the holidays.
On Friday (September 26), the beaches of Kolatoli, Laboni, and Sugandha in Cox’s Bazar were filled with tourists. Sayemul Haque, a bank officer from Mirpur, Dhaka, who arrived with his family, said, “Cox’s Bazar is the most popular tourist spot in the country. Whenever we get the chance, we come here to enjoy.”
According to tourism sources, almost all hotels and motels are already fully booked in advance. The district administration and hotel owners’ association have assured that strict measures are in place to ensure tourists’ safety and prevent harassment.
Meanwhile, the sea has turned rough due to warning signals. Sea-Safe lifeguards have urged tourists to follow safety guidelines. Bathing is prohibited in red-flagged areas, and visitors have been asked to consult lifeguards before entering the water.
Additional DIG of Tourist Police, Apel Mahmud, said that maximum efforts are being made to ensure tourists’ safety during the season, so visitors do not face any trouble.
On the other hand, to handle the increased passenger load during Puja, Bangladesh Railway has announced four pairs of “Puja Special” trains. Between September 30 and October 4, three pairs will run on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route and one pair on the Dhaka–Chattogram route.