Three tourists drown at Himchari beach, two missing
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Three tourists have died after entering the water to swim at Himchari Beach in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar. Two others remain missing, and search operations are underway to rescue them. The incident occurred around 4 pm on Wednesday, October 21, at the beach near the Pechar Dwip Museum in Himchari.
Two of the deceased have been identified as Al Mahibur Ibne Mokarram, also known as Rohan (23), and Saiful Haque Jisan (23). Their friend S M Nafizur Rahman Nibir (23), remains missing. The seven friends had traveled from Uttara in Dhaka. Meanwhile, Mohammad Akash (20), a member of a group visiting from Chattogram, also died. Harun (17), from the same group remains missing.
Imtiaz Ahmed, regional director of the private lifeguard organization Sea Safe, said that despite the growing number of tourists, there are not enough lifeguards to conduct rescue operations along the extensive stretch of beach from Kalatali to Teknaf. According to him, red flags are displayed in dangerous areas, but many tourists ignore the warnings and enter the water.
According to police and related sources, seven friends studying at different universities left Uttara in Dhaka on the night of October 18 for a trip. They reached Bandarban the following morning and visited various tourist attractions. At around 12:45 pm on Wednesday, they checked into the Shore Nest Beach Camp resort in the Himchari area. After eating, they entered the sea to swim near the Pechar Dwip Museum at around 4 pm.
At the time, a group of five people who had traveled from Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar was also in the water nearby. When one member of that group began to be swept away by a strong current, the tourists from Dhaka rushed to help. However, none of them knew how to swim. While attempting to rescue the other person, they were also caught in the current. As the sand beneath their feet gave way, they began drifting in the water.
Hearing their screams, local residents and other tourists rushed to help. Local people and tourists at the scene rescued four of the seven friends from Dhaka alive. Al Mahibur Ibne Mokarram and Saiful Haque Jisan were recovered dead. Of the five members of the other group, three were rescued alive. One of them was sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. The body of Mohammad Akash from that group was recovered. Harun remains missing.
Nibir, who remains missing, lives in Azampur in Dhaka’s Uttara area. His father’s name is Labibur Rahman. Harun is from Nazarpur in Senbagh upazila of Noakhali. His father’s name is Kabir Ahmed. He lived in the Bank Colony area of Shershah Jamtala in Bayezid, Chattogram.
Ramu Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Zillur Rahman said two groups of tourists entered the sea to swim and were swept away by waves and currents. Local people rescued one person alive and sent him to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. Three bodies were later recovered from the scene. Search operations are underway for the two missing people.
Ramu Police Station Officer in Charge (OC) A K Fazlul Haque also confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, despite the growing number of tourists in Cox’s Bazar, questions have been raised about security and rescue arrangements along the extensive stretch of beach. Imtiaz Ahmed, regional director of the private lifeguard organization Sea Safe, said the organization has 27 lifeguards available to conduct rescue operations if anyone goes missing while swimming along the approximately five kilometer stretch from Kalatali to Laboni Point.
However, he said there are not enough personnel to conduct rescue operations along the vast stretch of beach extending south from Kalatali through Dorianagar, Himchari, Patuartek and Inani to Teknaf.
Imtiaz Ahmed said more than 300,000 tourists had gathered in Cox’s Bazar during the Durga Puja holidays. On Wednesday afternoon, an idol immersion festival was held at Laboni Point with a large crowd in attendance. Seeing crowds at various points along the beach, many people are heading toward Dorianagar and Himchari to swim. This is increasing the risk of accidents.
According to him, at least 20 hidden channels have currently formed at Himchari, Dorianagar, Kalatali, Sugandha and Laboni Point. Currents in these channels can become dangerous. Although red flags have been raised at various locations to warn people against swimming in risky areas, many tourists are ignoring the warnings.
H M Nazrul Islam, member secretary of the Cox’s Bazar Citizens’ Movement, said more than 300,000 tourists are currently staying in Cox’s Bazar. Not a single room is available across more than 500 hotels, guesthouses, resorts and cottages. The enormous influx of tourists has renewed concerns about the ability to ensure safety across different sections of the beach and carry out rescue operations quickly.
