kuakata tourist police

মন্ত্রণালয় পরিচিতি

• ইতিহাস ও কার্যাবলি
• মিশন ও ভিশন
• প্রাক্তন মন্ত্রীগণের তালিকা
• প্রাক্তন সচিবগণের তালিকা
• সাংগঠনিক কাঠামো
• এলোকেশন অব বিজনেস
• সাফল্য ও অর্জন
• কর্মকর্তাবৃন্দ
• তথ্য প্রদানকারী কর্মকর্তা
• অভিযোগ নিষ্পত্তিকারী কর্মকর্তা
• আপিল কর্মকর্তা
• ফোকাল পয়েন্ট কর্মকর্তাগণ

মন্ত্রণালয়ের সেবাসমূহ

• সেবা প্রদান প্রতিশ্রুতি
• নাগরিক ই-সেবাসমূহের তালিকা
• অন্যান্য সেবার তালিকা

মন্ত্রণালয়ের কমিটিসমূহ

• মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রী এবং মাননীয় মন্ত্রীর সভাপতিত্বে মন্ত্রণালয় সম্পর্কিত কমিটিসমূহ

এডিপি প্রকল্প

• বাস্তবায়নাধীন

নিজস্ব অর্থায়নে প্রকল্প

পিপিপি প্রকল্প.

• অফিসের ঠিকানা
• আপনার জিজ্ঞাসা ও মতামত
• ফটোগ্যালারী
• ভিডিও গ্যালারি
• প্রেস রিলিজ

ফরম ডাউনলোড

• সভায় উপস্থিতির উপর প্রতিবেদন ফরম
• গাড়ী রিকুইজিশন ফরম
• হোটেলের আবেদন ফরম
• ই-ফাইলিং সংক্রান্ত লগ সিট
• আইসিটি সমস্যা সংক্রান্ত লগ সিট
• ই-ফাইল ব্যবহারকারীর তথ্য ফরম
• সভায় আপ্যায়নের রিক্যুইজিশন ফরম
• এজেন্সি পরিদর্শন প্রতিবেদন ফরম

সফটওয়্যার ডাউনলোড

• প্রয়োজনীয় সফটওয়্যার
• বিবিধ ডাউনলোড
• পর্যটন বিষয়ক প্রকাশনা
• প্রয়োজনীয় আইন/বিধি
• জেলা ভিত্তিক দর্শনীয় স্থান

মন্ত্রণালয়ের লাইব্রেরি

• বইয়ের তালিকা

কনটেন্টটি শেয়ার করতে ক্লিক করুন

National Portal Bangladesh

পোর্টাল সাবস্ক্রাইব করুন

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ট্যুরিস্ট পুলিশের অফিসসমূহ

Tourist Police Headquarters:

Address: House#32, Road#01, Block#A, Banasree, Rampura, Dhaka-1219

Telephone: 02-8399230,

Fax: 02-8396613

Email: [email protected]

Dhaka Office:

Address: House#09, Road#05, Block#J, Bonosree, Rumpura, Dhaka.

Mobile: 01769-690717

Chittagong Office:

Address: Plot#D/13, Kalpolok R/A, Bakolia, Chittagong.

Mobile: 01769-690730

Cox’s Bazar Office:

Address: Laboni Point, Cox’s bazaar

Mobile: 01769-690732

Sylhet Office:

Address: House#368, Sheikhghat, Sylhet.

Mobile: 01769-690718

Moulobibazar Office:

Address: Kalighat Road, Sreemongal, Moulobibazar.

Mobile: 01769-690721

Kuakata Office:

Address: Nobinpur, Kuakata, Patuakhali.

Mobile: 01769-690719

মাননীয় প্রধান উপদেষ্টা

ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস

বিস্তারিত---

বিস্তারিত...

প্রকাশনাঃ বদলে যাওয়া দৃশ্যপট

অভ্যন্তরীণ ই-সেবাসমূহ

• ই-স্টোর ব্যবস্থাপনা
• এসএমএস সিস্টেম
• ট্রেনিং ম্যানেজমেন্ট সিস্টেম
• অনলাইন ট্রাভেল এজেন্সি
• ই-লাইব্রেরি ব্যবস্থাপনা

কেন্দ্রীয় ই-সেবা

গুরুত্বপূর্ণ লিংক.

• আকাশপথের যাত্রীর প্রশ্ন ও উত্তর, সমস্যা ও পরামর্শ
• উচ্চতার ছাড়পত্র এবং ওএলএস
• এডিপি/আরএডিপি ম্যানেজমেন্ট সিস্টেম
• আকাশ পথে যাত্রীসেবা সহায়িকা
• বিমান পরিবহন ও পর্যটন শব্দকোষ

অধীনস্থ সংস্থাসমূহ

সরকারি কর্মচারী ব্যবস্থাপনা পদ্ধতি (GEMS)

সামাজিক যোগাযোগ

জাতীয় সংগীত

জরুরি হটলাইন.

ইনোভেশন কর্নার

• বাস্তবায়িত উদ্ভাবনী ধারণাসমূহ
• বার্ষিক উদ্ভাবন কর্মপরিকল্পনা
• ই-গভর্ন্যান্স ও উদ্ভাবন কর্মপরিকল্পনা সংক্রান্ত বিভিন্ন প্রতিবেদন
• মন্ত্রণালয়ের ইনোভেশন টিম
• বাছাইকৃত উদ্ভাবনী ধারণাসমূহ
• ইনোভেশন পাইলটিং প্রকল্প
• উদ্ভাবনী উদ্যোগের ডকুমেন্টেশন

Number of Visitors:

• গোপনীয়তার নীতিমালা
• ব্যবহারের শর্তাবলী
• সচরাচর জিজ্ঞাসা

পরিকল্পনা ও বাস্তবায়নে:  মন্ত্রিপরিষদ বিভাগ ,  এটুআই ,  বিসিসি ,  ডিওআইসিটি  ও  বেসিস ।

কারিগরি সহায়তায়:

• Environment
• Middle East
• Entertainment

September 10, 2024

Business & Economy

• Travel & Tourism

Padma Bridge provides smooth trips to Kuakata as tourists pour in

Tourists travelling to the country's southwest on the Eid-ul-Azha break have had a smooth trip to Patuakhali’s Kuakata thanks to the Padma Bridge.

Patuakhali Correspondent

Sanjay Kumar Das, , bdnews24.com

Published : 13 Jul 2022, 12:32 AM

Updated : 13 Jul 2022, 12:32 AM

Every hotel and motel is brimming with holidaymakers who have travelled to catch a glimpse of the exquisite view of the sunrise and sunset at Kuakata, also known as the “Daughter of the Sea” of Patuakhali.

Businesses have high hopes of turning around the decline they suffered during the pandemic.

Md Motaleb Sharif, the general secretary of Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners’ Association, said: “There are more than 100 hotels and motels here capable of accommodating as many as 20,000 people. Chances are that over 50,000 tourists might visit after Eid.”

“People from nearby areas visited the day after Eid but tourists from [around the country] began arriving from the third day. We're expecting more people to arrive from Dhaka and other places at night.  As the hotels, motels and cottages are booked, this place will be packed with tourists.”

Kuakata Tourist Police OC Hasnain Parvez said, “This is the first Eid after the opening of Padma Bridge. So the tourists will stream in here, it's a given. So the tourist police have deployed additional manpower with that in mind. More police personnel have been brought in at stations.”

There are foreign sightseers as well, according to him. A mobile court team is in operation while doctors, a team from the Fire Service and Civil Defence are also at work.

The Padma Bridge has reduced the distance from Dhaka’s Zero Point to Kuakata to almost 300km. With no ferries required for the journey, the trip takes around 6 hours and 30 minutes, which is less than half of the time it took before.

Shafiqul Islam, who arrived in Kuakata with his friends from Dhaka, said: “Four of our friends are here on a tour after Eid as the Padma Bridge has been inaugurated. This is the first time I’m here. I’m enjoying it.”

“We’re mesmerised by the vastness of the sea. We’re going around to different places and spending a lot of time on the beach. This is a unique experience.”

Kamruzzaman Prince travelled to Kuakata from Dinajpur with his family and relatives.

“Everyone from our family has come to Kuakata after Eid this time. This place is actually captivating - the long sea beach and the vast sea… It feels great. You can’t perceive the beauty of nature if you don’t come here.”

Abul Hossain Raju, the managing director of Kuakata Green Tourism, said: “Our guides are providing full-time services. The speedboats are all busy travelling to different places.”

Md Nizam, the president of Kuakata Bhuiyan Market, said: “Few tourists made a trip to Kuakata during the coronavirus pandemic. But a lot of them are here this year. Small and large stores are spending a busy time doing business with the tourists.”

[Writing in English by Syed Mahmud Onindo]

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

British man’s calamitous holiday after border guards mistook him for someone else

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A British tourist had a holiday he would never forget – after being arrested when officers mistook him for a convicted cigarette smuggler with a similar name.

James Colley, 57, and his wife, Louise, booked a package holiday to Tunisia to celebrate his retirement in the sun.

However, his peaceful retreat quickly turned into the holiday from hell when he was questioned by armed police upon touchdown at Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport and sent to a court in the capital, Tunis.

The dad-of-three, who is known as Jim, later learned that the police were looking for James Coyle – who had been convicted of smuggling cigarettes into the country in 2012.

The couple, from Newcastle, had to spend the rest of their £1,400 holiday fighting the charges.

They then had to cough up an additional £800 to cover three eight-hour round trips to Tunis, lawyer fees and bribes to local officials.

On the final day of their holiday, Jim appeared in front of a judge, only for the case to be dropped in seconds as the charges were too old.

He said: ‘We still don’t know if it was a scam to make money. Were the police involved? The passport people?

‘I’m quite a calm person, but honestly, you don’t argue with someone with a gun* You’ve got no idea – are they trigger-happy? It was absolutely terrifying.

‘I’ve never had any mental health problems in my life, but honestly, this was mentally draining.’

Wife Louise, who is a community staff nurse, warned other British people against travelling to the North African nation.

She said: ‘Don’t go. It sounds terrible as there are some nice people over there, but it’s just not safe – I just don’t think it’s safe for any British tourists to go at the minute.

‘It could have been our kids. They could have been on holiday, and it could have happened to them. They might not have coped as well as we did.

‘We didn’t know if Jim was going to get locked up or what the hell was going to go on.

‘It was completely terrifying. It should have never happened. I don’t know why we’ve been picked on. It’s total corruption over there.’

The holiday had meant to be a celebration of Jim’s retirement as a Nissan car plant worker, and the couple had booked into a £1,400 five-star hotel in Mahida.

They never got to enjoy the facilities, as Jim was stopped at the airport and questioned for hours.

He said: ‘They kept on taking my passport away and asking us the same two questions: Had I been to Tunisia before and where did I work?

‘I said I’d only been once on my honeymoon in 2009. They didn’t believe us, they said, “You’ve been before.”

‘They had guns, and you don’t argue with someone with a gun. They then got an interpreter down, and he basically said, “You’re going to have an invitation to appear in court.”‘

Jim described the court building as looking like a 1960s bank with paper files everywhere and members of staff smoking. Upon arrival, he was presented with a court document, which named him as James Coyle.

The couple managed to secure the services of a local English-speaking lawyer for £130, after previously being quoted £530.

When in court, Jim shared he was terrified of being fined or ending up in prison, but within 30 seconds of standing in front of the judge he waved his hand in the air and an usher came and whispered: ‘It’s all over, you’re free to go.’

Jim’s legal team then informed him that the case never should have gone ahead as the offence was too old.

He explained: ‘Basically, what they knew all along was that the case was for cigarette smuggling in 2012. This James Coyle was convicted in his absence.

‘Because the case was over five years old, it just got thrown out anyway – not the fact that it wasn’t even me, mistaken identity.’

The Tunisian Embassy in London has been contacted for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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The Power of Collaboration: Empowering Sustainable Change through Private Sector Innovation Efforts with UNDP Accelerator Lab

September 3, 2024.

Sensemaking discussion with the private sector and security forces on tourism development

By Ramiz uddin, PhD., Head of Experimentation, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh 

Samiha Akter Sima, Experimentation and innovation Associate, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh

Nawmee Jessica Howladar, Innovation Associate - Climate Change and Environment, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require robust partnerships with the private sector in addition to governmental and intergovernmental action, as acknowledged by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for a long time. The creation of jobs, economic growth, and innovation are all influenced by the private sector, which is vital to the global economy. Businesses can help ensure environmental sustainability, promote gender equality, improve health outcomes, and reduce poverty by integrating their operations with the SDGs. This collaboration leverages the innovation, resources, and operational expertise of businesses to drive sustainable development on a global scale. In this blog, we explore the multifaceted approach UNDP takes to partner with the private sector and highlight some successful initiatives that illustrate the power of these collaborations. 

UNDP’s Collaboration with Private Sector : UNDP Accelerator Lab Bangladesh since its inception has been jointly working with diversified partners and stakeholders including the private sector and government counterparts to speed up its programme and interventions. They have been collaborating with private sector for capacity development, job creation and enhance livelihoods in the vulnerable areas. These partnership focus on improving the vocational training and skills development to meet the market demand, ensuring that individuals are equipped for jobs of the future. UNDP Accelerator Lab Bangladesh is dedicated to address complex development challenges through innovative solutions and partnerships. One significant area of focus is sustainable tourism where the lab collaborates with Tour Operators Association in Bangladesh (TOAB) with its multiple branches in different districts to promote responsible travel and tourism with conserving the biodiversity and support the local economies. Similarly, the lab also been working together with Women Chamber of Commerce in Cox’s Bazar to improve live and livelihood of vulnerable women through capacity development in blue economy and blue tourism.

Illustration of some successful initiatives with Private Sector

Smart Tour Guide Approach

Tourism is a powerful sector for any country’s economic growth, cultural exchange, and environmental awareness. However, this sector can play a vital role for creating a large number of informal employments in the developing countries like Bangladesh where there are plenty of natural and historical attractions. The tour guides in many popular tourist spots lack the necessary skills in multiple areas while assisting the visitors. The majority of tour guides, operators, and informal workers are incompetent, which has a negative impact on Bangladesh's tourism industry. Tour guides are unable to connect with prospective tourists and make their visit easier without the required equipment

Tour guides are receiving capacity building training tools and techniques on basic first aid and photography

To flourish tourism sector and enhance employment in tourism, UNDP AccLab partnered with Tour Operators Association of Cox’s Bazar (TOAC) has facilitated capacity development training for 500+ tour guides in smart tourist service and provided smart tourism equipment in different tourist spots like, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, kuakata etc. Throughout the process, Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), Bangladesh Tourist Police, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Local Government, and other local representatives played crucial role as the facilitator, resource provider, and regulator to inclusive growth.

Behavioral Insights of informal workers- problem context and treatment process

Initially, the UNDP Accelerator lab with the support of private sector focused on informal workers after theorising the problem context. These workers included boatmen, jeep drivers in Thanchi, Bandarban & Belaichari, Rangamati, and instant hawkers at various sea beach locations at Cox's Bazar who directly interact with tourists. A series of initiatives were started, such as sensemaking workshops to gain insight into the circumstances, awareness-building for informal workers, tool development, and training modules. These activities have produced very satisfactory results and outputs. The informal workers were listed, and partners and pertinent stakeholders were contacted based on the results of the need assessment. The entire process changed the attitudes of informal workers and mobilised a large number of communities. In the end, this leads to an increase in supply change when visitor satisfaction starts to rise

Informal workers onboarded to have behavioral insights training

Capacity development of Vulnerable Women for Employment Generation

In contrast, the influx of numerous tourists creates a demand for new market opportunities, which in turn links local tourism and business institutions with the demand for basic commodities like tailoring, boutique, handicraft, and readymade dressmaking. Many secondary school-passed, disadvantaged women, such as landless, widows, vulnerable women, and women-headed family's jobless vulnerable women from vulnerable communities, are seeking work to mitigate family maintenance costs, but they have not yet found a job. 

Capacity building session of Mini Garments Journey

In order to connect these two ends of the same spectrum, the UNDP Accelerator Lab in Bangladesh has implemented interventions aimed at enhancing community members' self-perceptions and quality of life while creating economic opportunities for the area's vulnerable young girls and women. Prior to the creation of the product co-design and process specification, the local government bodies, local public representatives, UNDP, Women Chamber of Commerce in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh government's Technical Training Institute, and national NGOs collaborated to assess the context, map the value chain, and identify market linkages.

Expected outcome of the women’s capacity building through entrepreneurship skill development

Future Collaboration and Anticipated Impact

Accelerated SDG Progress: By utilising the resources and experience of the private sector, improved collaboration will aid in accelerating the SDGs' attainment.

Creative Solutions: The infusion of private sector innovation will lead to the development of new and effective solutions to development challenges.

Economic Empowerment: By generating jobs, enhancing livelihoods, and encouraging inclusive growth, partnerships will advance economic empowerment.

Environmental Sustainability: By encouraging green practices and lowering the carbon footprint of communities and businesses, combined efforts will help to promote environmental sustainability.

The UNDP's partnership with the private sector has enormous potential to advance sustainable development in the future. UNDP and private businesses can collaborate to develop creative, scalable solutions that tackle some of the most important problems facing the planet. These collaborations will be essential in creating a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for everybody as they develop.

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Met Police ‘didn’t get everything right’ as report shows impact of protests on tourism and public services

It reveals that the palestine-related protests in london cost the metropolitan police £42.9million, article bookmarked.

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The Metropolitan Police “didn’t get everything right” in policing recent large-scale protests, as a new report reveals the impact caused on tourism, retail and public service finances.

A new report found that two thirds of people would drop plans with small children if a protest was taking place, with the force’s assistant commissioner saying that arrests for disruptive individuals could have been made sooner.

Matt Twist, who is responsible for protest and public order policing across London , also said the force used an “infinite number of tiers of policing” in response to criticisms of the Met adopting a ‘two-tier’ stance.

A series of groups have held frequent protests and counter-protests since October last year, including environmental campaigns by Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion and marches organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) calling for immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Right-wing protests developed into rioting and disorder after three young girls were killed in an attack in the Merseyside town of Southport on 29 July.

In an interview with think tank Policy Exchange in May, Matt Twist said: “When we look back at the policing of protests over the last eight months, we know we didn’t get everything right – particularly in the early stages in October.

“On occasion, we did not move quickly to make arrests, for example the man chanting for ‘jihad’, which was a decision made following fast time advice from lawyers and the CPS.

“We are now much more focused on identifying reasonable grounds for arrest, acting where needed, and then investigating, so in these circumstances it’s very likely arrests would be made more quickly now.”

The assistant commissioner said that while the number of demonstrators had fallen significantly from a peak of around 300,000 people at pro-Palestinian events every fortnight last November to around 5,000 to 10,000 people every third weekend as of May, the protests still represented a “very real policing challenge”.

Between last October and June the Palestine-related protests in London cost the Metropolitan Police £42.9million, according to the new report by the right-wing think tank Policy Exchange.

Almost 52,000 Met officers’ shifts and almost 10,000 police officer shifts from forces elsewhere in the country were required for all protests in the same period.

On the topic of “two-tier” policing, Mr Twist said: “In public order policing we are neutral as to the cause that is being protested. We base policing tactics on the threat, harm and risk based on the information and intelligence available to us.

“In that sense there is no such thing as ‘two-tier or differential policing’ – there are in fact an infinite number of tiers of policing, depending on the threat, harm and risk.”

The report found current legislation requires protest organisers to only provide six days’ notice to the police of their intention to stage a march.

Final plans for the event are often therefore only provided to the public the day before or the day of a march itself, which is “simply unreasonable for the public to be required to continually adapt”, the report says.

It also found that in nearly a third of cases, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is choosing not to prosecute suspects in public order cases based on “public interest” grounds, almost double the number in robbery or homicide cases.

A nationwide poll of more than 1,500 adults was also conducted for the study to gauge public attitudes towards major protests.

It found that more than two thirds of respondents would drop plans to travel with small children (71 per cent) or an elderly or mobility-impaired friend of relative (69%) if a major protest was taking place in a nearby city or town centre.

In terms of leisure and retail, 62 per cent of those surveyed would drop plans to visit a tourist attraction while 58 per cent would drop plans to go shopping, with the latter rising to 69 per cent for women.

More than half (58 per cent) of those surveyed said they did not believe an organisation should be allowed to protest more than once a month.

As of 7 September, there had been 18 PSC-organised demonstrations in central London since last October.

Among its 26 recommendations, the report calls on the government to change the criteria to prohibit a protest march under section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986 to include “serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community”, and to establish a protest commission for London appointed by the home secretary.

It also calls on the Met to impose “more stringent” conditions on protest marches, relating to the length of time, locations and distance over which they are held, and on all police forces to publish the full records of discussions between them and protest organisers well in advance of an event.

Former Met commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe QPM, who endorsed the report, said: “In recent years the policing of protest has become increasingly challenging for police commanders and officers on the ground.

“We regularly see police officers demonstrating conspicuous courage and for that they deserve our gratitude and respect.

“As this timely and detailed Policy Exchange report shows, the government must rebalance the legal regime in favour of ordinary members of the public going about their daily lives.”

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign was contacted for comment.

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We'll now arrest people more quickly at protests, Met Police deputy chief warns

The Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner's comments were released as a new report said "increasingly disruptive protests" were forcing people to drop plans to visit tourist attractions or go to the shops.

Monday 9 September 2024 10:55, UK

The Metropolitan Police has said it is "very likely" arrests will be made more quickly when it handles large protests in the future.

Assistant commissioner Matt Twist, who is responsible for protest and public order policing across London, also admitted the force "didn't get everything right" when policing demonstrations in recent times.

It comes as a report said "a new era of increasingly disruptive protests" was forcing people to drop plans to visit tourist attractions or go to the shops.

Frequent protests and counter-demonstrations have been held since last October, including by environmental campaigners and from groups calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict .

Protests also developed into rioting and disorder after three girls were killed in an attack in Southport in July.

In comments to right-wing thinktank Policy Exchange in May, which were made before the unrest in the summer and have just been released, Mr Twist said: "When we look back at the policing of protests over the last eight months, we know we didn't get everything right - particularly in the early stages in October.

"We are now much more focused on identifying reasonable grounds for arrest, acting where needed, and then investigating, so in these circumstances it's very likely arrests would be made more quickly now."

On the topic of "two-tier" policing, Mr Twist added: "We base policing tactics on the threat, harm and risk based on the information and intelligence available to us.

"In that sense there is no such thing as 'two-tier or differential policing' - there are in fact an infinite number of tiers of policing, depending on the threat, harm and risk."

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The report, released by Policy Exchange, highlighted how current legislation requires protest organisers to provide six days' notice to the police of their intention to stage a march.

A nationwide poll of more than 1,500 adults found more than two thirds of respondents would drop plans to travel with small children (71%) or an elderly or mobility-impaired friend or relative (69%) if a major protest was taking place nearby.

In terms of leisure and retail, 62% of those surveyed would drop plans to visit a tourist attraction, while 58% said they would not go shopping - this rises to 69% for women.

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Kuakata beach becomes risky for tourists

Accidents are taking place often due to lack of safety instructions.

The number of tourists is increasing day by day at Kuakata Beach, known as Sagar Kanya, but the popular tourist destination is becoming risky for the visiting people due to lack of safety instructions.

After coming to Kuakata, the tourists are eager to walk on the beach and swim in the waves but they do not know that it is becoming dangerous to go down to the beach and take a bath. While going down to the beach, they fall victim to accidents and suffer injuries. Despite the risks, local businessmen and tourists blame the lack of safety instructions for tourists at Kuakata Beach and the lack of adequate security measures for such incidents.

In recent times, it has been seen that the locals along with the tourists coming to Kuakata are constantly suffering from accidents on the beach. After coming to the beach, the tourists move quickly without seeing any warning instructions. While going down to the beach, they fall victim to accident. As a result, the joyous journey turns into misery in a moment.

Various sources said since the holy Eid-ul-Azha, more than 30 tourists have received injures due to geo-bags. Of them, the leg of a person had been broken. The rest were seriously injured. Many people have suffered injuries between the gap of geo-bags. Kuakata is a rare sea beach in Bangladesh that offers scenic beauty with a panoramic view of the rising and setting crimson sun over the Bay of Bengal.

While visiting the beach, it has been found that the water development board is using geo bags to protect the beach from erosion. These geo bags are scattered all over the beach. Algae has become a death trap now. Holes have been created somewhere. As a result, tourists and locals face danger when they go down to the beach.

Locals and tourists demand quick removal of algae from the beach area, safety instructions for tourists, dissemination of tide information, taking precautionary measures against adverse weather conditions and notifying everyone of danger level signs with warning signs and numbers.

On the other hand, the law enforcement forces complain that there are many tourists coming to Kuakata who rush down to the beach without taking any precautions. As a result, they are suffering such accident. Himel, a tourist who came from Brahmanbaria, said, “I fell down on the beach and got a lot of pain in my leg. Legs are swollen. If this beach had written warnings, I would have used caution. Then, I wouldn't have this problem.”

Abu Nasim Munsi, a tourist coming from Dhaka, said seeing the condition of the beach, one feels fear. “Why would tourists come to the beach if they can't bathe and walk comfortably on the beach. Geo bags are spread all over the place starting from zero point and it becomes slippery. If this problem is not resolved soon, tourism will suffer a heavy loss,” he said.

Tourism businessman Md KM Bachchu said embankment protection work has been done with geo bags. Now they have become a threat to tourists. There have been incidents of injuries and deaths due to these geo bags. As a businessman, he strongly demands measures so that tourists can know the safe zone and risky places with guidance.

Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, president of the Tour Operators Association of Kuakata, said the beach needs to be made risk-free. Geo bags are now acting as a menace all over the beach. Due to potholes and algae, accidents are constantly happening. “I think there is a need to create a few more spots to go down to the beach. If the embankment is preserved through a permanent project, the beautiful beach will attract tourists, otherwise tourists will turn away from Kuakata,” he observed.

Motaleb Sharif, general secretary of Hotel Motel Owners Association, said they will discuss the matter with the deputy commissioner and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). Without safety instructions, tourists will not know which place is risk free. 

It is becoming imperative to give such instructions. Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Member Secretary of Beach Management Committee Md Rabiul Islam said a meeting has already been organised with the municipal mayor, Kuakata Tourist Police and Hotel Motel Owners Association officials. There was a discussion to give beach safety instructions to tourists on the beach and it will be installed soon, said the UNO.

Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad of Tourist Police Kuakata Zone said the safety of tourists comes first. “A meeting has already been held in this regard and we hope that safety instructions for tourists at Kuakata beach will be installed within a very short time.”

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Tourists flock to Kuakata Beach to watch Cyclone Midhili

• Water levels risen 4-5 feet above normal tide
• Local people not seen going to shelters

Hundreds of tourists and visitors have gathered at Kuakata beach to witness the turbulent sea caused by Cyclone Midhili.

Since Friday morning, people have been enjoying bathing in the sea, disregarding warnings from tourist police, thana police, and the Red Crescent Society.

Meanwhile, the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Kuakata has become increasingly turbulent, with gusty winds and rain. Water levels have risen 4-5 feet above normal tide. The Meteorological Department issued warning signal Number 7 at Payra seaport, and the cyclone warning flag has been hoisted as Cyclone Midhili approaches rapidly.

According to the Meteorological Department and the Red Crescent Society, the cyclone was located 270km from Kuakata beach. However, local people were not seen going to shelters, and there was not much concern among those living outside the coastal embankment.

Tourist Azizur Rahman from Jamalpur said: "I came to Kuakata with my family the day before yesterday (Wednesday). Due to the sudden bad weather, I have not gone back. The sea has become rough due to the impact of the cyclone, and I went down to the beach to see the rough sea waves. Despite police warnings, I enjoyed in the waves."

Ahmed Shafiq, another tourist, shared: "This is the first time in my life that I have come to Kuakata beach in bad weather. I got the first experience of seeing the waves of the turbulent sea. Even though there is fear of cyclone, many tourists like me are crowding the beach."

Hasnain Parvez, the in-charge of Kuakata Tourist Police Zone, noted: "The sea is very rough due to the effect of Cyclone Midhili. Tourists are prohibited from bathing down the beach, but some are still enjoying themselves at various points. We are cautious to prevent anyone from going into the deep sea."

Didar Uddin Ahmed Masum, president of Mahipur Fisheries Artdar (warehouse) Cooperative Society, said: "All trawlers fishing in the sea have taken refuge in the Khaprabhanga river of Alipur-Mahipur."

Md Asaduzzaman, assistant director of upazila Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP), mentioned that rain and strong winds have started on the Kalapara coast. CPP members are ready in every union.

Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md Jahangir Hossain said: "All union chairmen have been asked to hold an emergency meeting. All shelters in the upazila are ready, and people outside the embankment are being urged to evacuate to shelters as the cyclone may hit by evening."

Nationwide unrest: Kuakata tourism business suffers losses

Sundarbans getting back to normal month after cyclone remal, eid holidays bring tourism boom to kuakata beach, extreme weather: bangladesh bears brunt of severe impacts, dolphin carcass washes ashore on kuakata beach, cyclone remal uproots hundreds of trees on kuakata beach, apple unveiled iphone 16 lineup, shakib takes four wickets on surrey debut, england women bowl out ireland for 45 in record-breaking 275-run win, home adviser: committee to be formed to reform police, hasina sued in another ict case.

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