Unsafe Cox's Bazar, Saint Martin

Bangladesh is the proud owner of the largest sea beach of the world, Cox's Bazar, and the coral island, Saint Martin's Island. But of these places are left in negligence.

Developing these tourism-enriched areas in a planned way is a far cry while the authorities even failed to provide safety of the tourists. That is why accidents are occurring very frequently.

On 14 April, four students drowned in the Bay of Bengal as they went to visit Saint Martin. Two of the students are still missing.
This incident raises fresh questions about safety in Saint Martin.
According to local documents, at least 85 people drowned to death in Cox's Bazar and 14 others in Saint Martin in the last 12 years.
A total of 111 kilometres area out of 120 kilometres tourist spot in Cox's Bazar is completely unsafe. No rescuers or patrolman are appointed in those areas. The patrol service in 9 kilometres is not sufficient. 
On the other hand, in Saint Martin there are no warning signboards or rescue system.

In 1992, the first tourism policy was taken, which talked about a master plan to improve Cox's Bazar as a tourist spot.
After 18 years, another National Tourism Policy, 2010 said that ideal leisure tourism destination would be built up centring world's longest sea beach Cox's Bazar-Teknaf, Saint Martin and Sona Island.
Awami League in its election 2008 manifesto pledged to develop the tourism sectors of the country. But all of these are visible only in documents.
According to Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) 2013, Bangladesh ranked 123 among 140 countries.
National Tourism Board member and Dhaka University Tourism and Hospitality Management Department chairman Mojib Uddin Ahmed told Prothom Alo that next steps must be taken after declaring Cox's Bazar and Saint Martin as "special zone". There should be authorities comprising speedy rescuers, including coast guards.
But Tourism Ministry secretary Khurshed Alam Chowdhury said the local people should develop security in tourist areas.

Unsafe Bay:

Almost everyday a number of tourists bathe in the sea at their waist-deep water. But there is no preparation for rescue if someone sweeps away.
The local people said the rescue activities in the Cox's Bazar coast is run under private management.
Shahbuddin, father of Yasir, a young man who drowned in the bay in 1995, established "Yasir Life Guard Station" with the funding of Duncan to rescue people who sweep away in the coast.

Eight volunteers retrieved at least 85 bodies of tourist from 5 kilometres area of the coast and saved life of more than 2,000 tourists in last 13 years.
Cox's Bazar Sea Beach Management committee secretary and district commissioner Md Ruhul Amin told Prothom Alo an initiative was taken to encircle a safe area of 1,500 foot with net. It will cost Tk 3 crores.  This project could not be completed lacking money.

Lack of guidance in Saint Martin:

At least 14 people died in last 14 years in Saint Martin, as there is no warning signboard there.
At least 8 to 10 thousand tourists visit the island everyday.
The local people said a total of 8.5 kilometres area of Saint Martin is totally unsafe.

Though some areas are marked as risky there is no caution signboards, as a result many tourists including local people die there.

But after the incident of 14 April, four red flags were hoisted at Prince Heaven point.
Saint Martin upazila chairman Nurul Amin said there are life-saving tubes, life jackets, divers, life buoys, other resources and rescuers in Saint Martin.
Teknaf police officer-in-charge Ranjit Kumar Barua said about 60-kilometre areas near Teknaf coast including Saint Martin there are no warning signboards or red signs.
The authorities are now trying to mark the risky points and set up sufficient cautionary signboards for the tourists.