Cox’s Bazar sees massive tourist surge after Eid
Although the holiday period has now ended, a significant number of tourists were still seen at the beach on Tuesday, enjoying various recreational activities such as beach bike rides, horse riding and jet skiing
ATT Desk Report 
Cox’s Bazar witnessed a massive influx of tourists following Eid-ul-Fitr, with at least 350,000 visitors arriving in the three days after the holiday, according to tourism stakeholders.
The surge, recorded between 22 March and 24 March, turned the world’s longest natural sea beach into a bustling hub of activity, with visitors crowding popular spots from Laboni Point to Kolatoli and Sugandha Point, reports TBS.
Although the holiday period has now ended, a significant number of tourists were still seen at the beach on Tuesday, enjoying various recreational activities such as beach bike rides, horse riding and jet skiing. Many others relaxed on beach chairs, walked along the shoreline or went into the sea.
Tourists said they had travelled to Cox’s Bazar to enjoy nature and spend time away from their daily routines, expressing satisfaction at being able to travel without disruption.
Hundreds of people throng Cox;s Bazar sea beach to enjoy Eid holidays. Photo: UNB
Raihanur Rahman, a tourist from Dhaka, said, “I arrived the day after Eid and will return tonight. There is hardly any space to walk on the beach due to the crowd. I have never seen such a large gathering here before.”
A group of visitors from Sylhet also visited during the Eid holidays. One of them, Rahatul Islam, said he used a drone to capture the scale of the crowd. “The higher I flew the drone, the more people I saw. It seems there are nearly 200,000 people on the beach. It is an amazing sight,” he said.
Abdus Sobhan, a banker who travelled from Dhaka’s Mirpur with his family, said the weather initially disrupted his experience. “It rained on the day of Eid, which was disappointing. But today the weather is pleasant, and we are enjoying our time,” he added.
According to Abul Kashem, president of the Cox’s Bazar Residential Hotel-Motel Guest House Owners Association, visitor numbers have begun to decline as the holidays end. However, tourists are expected to continue arriving in smaller numbers until later in the week.
The file photo shows the same Cox's Bazar sea beach with only a handful of tourists roaming here and there. Photo: Wikipedia
Despite the heavy crowds, authorities reported no major incidents during sea bathing. Md Imtiaz Ahmed, a project officer of the Sea Safe Lifeguard organisation, said maintaining safety remained challenging.
“It is difficult to ensure safety for more than 100,000 people entering the sea each day with only 27 lifeguards. Nevertheless, we managed the situation and ensured overall safety,” he said.
Law enforcement agencies also maintained strict vigilance throughout the holiday period. Zahed Hossain, inspector of the Tourist Police Cox’s Bazar Zone, said ensuring tourist safety was their top priority, with officers deployed round the clock across beach areas, hotels and entertainment spots.
Visitors also explored other attractions in the district, including Marine Drive, Himchhari, Inani Beach, Ramu Buddhist Vihara, Adinath Temple in Maheshkhali and Dulahazara Bangabandhu Safari Park. Authorities confirmed that no untoward incidents were reported during the Eid rush.
