Over 30,000 tourists stuck in Cox’s Bazar due to transport strike

Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: More than 30,000 tourists of Cox’s Bazar have remained stuck due to the ongoing nationwide transport strike that began on Friday morning protesting the hike in diesel oil price.
Most of the tourists come to Cox’s Bazar on weekends. Those who were scheduled to leave Cox’s Bazar on Friday and Saturday faced immense sufferings as the long-route buses did not operate.
However, some of the tourists reached their destinations by air and small vehicles. Abul Kashem Sikder, general secretary of Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel-Guest House Owners’ Association, said: “Those who were supposed to arrive on Friday afternoon had booked hotel rooms. But they could not come due to the transport strike. So, the hotel authorities have given a 30% discount for the stranded tourists.”
He claimed that no tourists were stranded in Cox’s Bazar, rather they fell into misery. “Thousands of tourists always stay in Cox’s Bazar. So the news of the tourist being trapped is not correct,” he added.
Referring to the damage done to the tourism industry due to the transport strike, Abul Kashem further said: “Tourists are in dire straits due to the sudden closure of long-distance buses. Businessmen are also being affected.” Superintendent of Police Md Rafiqul Islam claimed that all the tourists stuck due to the transport strike were taken to Chittagong at their own cost by the district police.
He also said: “Those who want to return have been requested to contact the Cox’s Bazar police lines. We have people there to help them.”
Deputy Commissioner Mamunur Rashid, also the president of Cox’s Bazar Beach Management Committee, said: “Stopping public transport is a national issue. The government is expected to take a quick decision in this regard.”