Thousands of tourists gathered on world’s biggest sea beach Cox’s Bazar to witness the last sunset of 2023 and also to witness the first sunrise of 2024.
In preparations of the 31st night celebrations the small tourist city, adjoining the Bay of Bengal, wore a festive mood since early on the day on Sunday with lightning illuminating the beach side hotels, resorts and shops.
Although public gatherings have been put on hold due to security reasons and also to avoid any possible clashes related to the up-coming national election, businessmen, especially hotel owners, said over 70 percent of the hotels have been booked way before to ensure accommodation in Cox’s Bazar.
The hotel owners, however, expected more people coming to the town and its surrounding places to celebrate the new year.
Most of the hotel management said that limited celebrations would be allowed but restricted within the boundaries of the hotel and resort premises.
Rani, Mahima and Amrita, tourists from Manikganj, said that the last sunset scene of the year was captured by the whole family in one frame at Cox's Bazar beach. It's a memory. They also said that they enjoyed coming to Cox's Bazar.
Masum Iqbal, president of the Hotel Owners Association in the beach town said that due to the election, the 31st night mood was not so good this time. He mentioned that about 70 percent of rooms were booked only.
Abul Kashem Sikder, president of Cox's Bazar Hotel Guest House Owners Association, said that only 50 percent of their resorts have been booked. The remaining 50 percent remained vacant. He said that this year’s 31st night celebration has been different from previous years due to various reasons including the election.
However, Labani Point, Kalatali Point and Sugandha Point of the beach in the afternoon, appeared highly crowded as the visitors had gathered from early evening to watch the Sun set for the last time in 2023. Most of the people on the beach were found capturing the Sunset scenes on their mobile phones.
Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar Md Shaheen Imran said that three teams of Executive Magistrates are working to ensure safety and security of the tourists coming to Cox's Bazar.
Additional DIG of Tourist Police of Cox's Bazar Region, Apel Mahmud said that to ensure the safety of tourists coming to Cox's Bazar, several teams of Tourist Police are working. Patrolling has been intensified at various places. Tourist spots including the entire hotel zones have been kept under constant surveillance. Starting from the railway station, the tourist police are on duty everywhere.
