Restrictions imposed on tourists to get into sea at Cox’s Bazar

Severe cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’ created over the Bay of Bengal turned into very severe cyclonic storm on Friday morning.

So, Cox’s Bazar district administration has imposed restrictions on tourists to go to the sea ignoring the inclement weather and risking their lives.

The district administration officials said there is a risk of drowning or missing if someone gets into the sea for taking bath ignoring the restrictions.

The very severe cyclonic storm over the central bay and adjoining southeast bay is rushing towards Cox’s Bazar. Torrential rains in Cox’s Bazar began at 2:45pm. In such a situation, all hotels, motels and resorts at St Martin’s Island have been declared cyclone shelters by the district administration.

In the meantime, apart from tourists, inhabitants of different districts have been shifted from St Martin’s. Local inhabitants of St Martin’s Island have been requested to take shelters at hotels and motels.

Cox’s Bazar’s additional district magistrate Md Abu Sufian stated it on Friday afternoon.

“Since the Cyclone ‘Mocha’ is heading towards Cox’s Bazar-St Martin’s, the entire Cox’s Bazar and St Martin’s are facing risks. Because of it, all hotels, motels and resorts of St Martin’s have been declared cyclone shelters by the district administration. Besides, we have shifted the tourists and inhabitants of different districts
from St Martin’s,” he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of tourists took bath in the saline water at Cox’s Bazar beach on Friday morning. The district administration, Tourist Police and Life Guard Forces have imposed restrictions on tourists to go to the sea risking their lives as the sea has remained under the influence of Cyclone ‘Mocha.’

Red flags were hoisted at Cox’s Bazar sea-beach early Friday afternoon. Then Tourist Police and volunteers were found preventing the tourists from going to the sea-beach at different points including Kolatali, Laboni and Sugandha.

Osman Gani, in-charge of Sea-Safe Lifeguard, which works for the security of tourists, said the tourists were lifted from the sea after hoisting red flags at 12 noon.

Shehrin Alam, assistant police super of Cox’s Bazar Zone of Tourist Police, said, “The sea has started becoming rough. So, we have started removing the tourists taking their safety into account.”

Meanwhile, as many as 576 cyclone shelters have been prepared in Cox’s Bazar. Besides, Tk 10.30 lakh in cash, 490 tonnes of rice, 7 tonnes of dry food and 194 sheets of tins have been kept in stock.

The control centres have been set up at the upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district to deal with Cyclone ‘Mocha.’