Stunning and beautiful Cox’s Bazar

Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
It is irony to note that Cox’s bazar, which is named after Lieutenant cox of the British army is located beautifully on low range of sand hills between the Bakkhali river(formally known as khurusia) and the Bay of Bengal is known home to the largest refugee population in the world since more than one million Rahinghya refugee from Myanmar took shelter in Cox’s bazar in August in 2017 following ruthlessly massacred of Rokingya in Rakhine state of Myanmar by Tatmadaw while Burmese military government snatched Rohingya citizenship in 1982 by President Ne win. As a matter of fact this writer had witnessed the Rohinghya in 1993 along with a group of Foreign Service students when I was assigned in Bangladesh civil service and Foreign affairs academy as Deputy Director from August 1991 to February in 1993.
Mr Cox who expired in 1798 had established a colony of Maghs following they sought shelter in British territory following the conquest of Arakan by the Burmese. Therefore, two thirds of the population in Cox’ Bazar are descendants of the Magh refugee while other segment of the society are Bhudhist, Christian and Muslim. Incidentally, Muslims constitute majority of the population.
Having the largest unbreakable beach in the world, Cox’s Bazar beach presents rare conch shells. Along the shore is a vast tropical forest region where many species of wildlife are of special habitat. So far this is probably the only sea beach which is free from industrial pollution. This beach is sandy with a gentle slope. Cottages, motels and hotels are there around the sea beach, but there is no provision for a drinking bar of any nature. It is 120 miles of unbreakable natural sandy sea beach while one can get lost with nature during sunrise and sunset. Incidentally many people are not aware that one can longest drive to Kalildia, Moheshkhali and St. Martin Island where renowned writer Humayun Ahmad built a house. Another major attraction is Himchari, 18 kilometers from Cox’s bazar is a beautiful place for picnics. Incidentally Cox’s Bazar is affected by nature particularly during the rainy season when severe storms hit the area. I recalled the storm which hit the area in 1955 was devastating indeed. The current year during the rainy season some refugee camps have been damaged.
To make the beach more attractive for foreign tourists certain measures are required if it is not done earlier. It is suggested that to stop infiltration of urchins during time of sunbathing in particular a fence is built along the beach while there should be provision in the hotel for hard drink for foreign tourist only who carry foreign passport. For example, Muslim countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Egypt have provision for offering hard drink only for the foreign tourist.

(The writer is retired diplomat from Bangladesh, former joint Director of Central Kachi’-Kanccher Mela and former President of Nova Toastmaster International club of America, writes from Falls Church, Virginia).