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.”
