9 dead, 56 hurt while bathing at Cox's Bazar beach in 10 months

Cox's Bazar remains a top destination for Bangladeshi tourists, attracting around 2 to 2.5 million visitors annually. Lifeguards, tourist police, and the district administration work together to ensure their safety.

However, over the past ten months, 56 people were rescued in critical condition while swimming in the world's longest sea beach. Tragically, five tourists and four local residents lost their lives while bathing in the sea. In October alone, one tourist and three others drowned.

Zainal Abedin Bhutto, a lifeguard who has been on duty at the beach for 13 years, told to Views Bangladesh that certain factors contribute to these incidents, including hidden channels, rip currents, and people swimming in areas without lifeguards.

He emphasized that lifeguards can identify areas with rip currents or hidden channels. However, with limited personnel, it’s challenging to ensure safety across the entire beach. Despite repeated incidents, many tourists still lack awareness. Some disregard lifeguard instructions and venture beyond designated safe zones.

Often, swimmers move too far into the sea, which makes rescue difficult without advanced equipment. In the latest case, a local teenager drowned on October 26, caught in a hidden channel that formed between low and high tide, leaving him unable to swim back as the tide rose.

An anonymous lifeguard noted that inflatable tubes can also be deadly. Many who use these tubes don’t know how to swim and drift away, relying on the tube to stay afloat. Strong waves often knock the tube away, leaving them vulnerable to drowning. Moreover, some jet ski operators are untrained and lack proper swimming skills. This lifeguard suggested banning the use of tubes in the sea.

Zainal Abedin Bhutto urged visitors to follow administrative guidelines and swim only in lifeguard-patrolled areas. Tourists arrive here for enjoyment, but it’s often spoiled by a moment of carelessness, he said.

Tanvir Hossain, a tourism magistrate for the district administration, said that tourist police, beach workers, and lifeguards work jointly to ensure beach safety. However, tourists must be more aware and heed warnings. He added that removing tourists from danger zones is sometimes seen as an infringement of their freedom.

Effective measures are essential to guarantee tourist safety at Cox’s Bazar Beach. Enhanced awareness and adherence to safety guidelines are key to addressing this growing concern.