Swarms of Eid tourists from Sajek to Sundarbans

The long Eid holidays painted Bangladesh
in vibrant hues of celebration, adventure, and natural beauty. While the first
two days of Eid were relatively quiet, the crowds swelled from the third day
and continued unabated on the fourth.
Across the
country, tourists thronged popular destinations, with sea beachers of Cox's
Bazar, Khagrachhari's hills, the dense mangroves of the Sundarbans, and the
historic Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat witnessing a lively surge in
visitors.
Khagrachhari hills alive with holiday
footfalls
Khagrachhari's hills and waterfalls came
alive as tourists returning from the scenic Sajek Valley explored Alutila Cave,
the Horticulture Park, and Risang Waterfall. Queues of CNGs and pickups
stretched across Alutila's entrance, with staff reporting over 3,000 visitors
in a single day.
The surge created
an acute accommodation crunch. Hundreds arriving without bookings spent nights
on verandas, in locals' homes, clubhouses, or even open spaces. Motijoy Tripura
of the Sajek Resort & Cottage Owners Association said, "There are
about 111 resorts and cottages in Sajek. From 22 to 28 March, all are fully
booked."
Nearly 6,500
tourists visited Sajek on Monday alone, with another 3,500 arriving the next
day, exceeding the area's 5,500-person overnight capacity.
Fuel shortages
affected transport, forcing some to return to Khagrachhari. Sub-Inspector
Nishat Roy of the Tourist Police said, "We patrol 24 hours to ensure
safety, with intensified patrols and active emergency services."
Rakibul Hasan from Chattogram said, "Khagrachhari's natural beauty always
draws me." Nusrat Jahan from Dhaka added, "Escaping the city's chaos
among hills, waterfalls, and greenery is refreshing."
Sundarbans: Mangrove majesty in motion
The Unesco World
Heritage Sundarbans drew visitors to ecotourism hubs like Karamjal Wildlife
Breeding Centre and Alibanda. Karamjal, the most accessible site, attracted the
largest numbers, with tourists exploring foot trails, climbing watch towers,
and observing captive crocodiles, deer, and freely roaming wildlife.
Other sites –
including Hiron Point, Katka, Kochikhali, Dubla Char, and Andharmanik – also
saw unusually high visitor traffic, stretching the limited forest guards.
Raihan and his spouse from Dhaka noted, "The forest is beautiful, but
broken trails and piled-up leaves pose risks. Security should be
strengthened."
Karamjal acting
officer Azad Kabir reported that around 12,000 tourists visited Karamjal over
four days, generating significant revenue, and said services and safety were
maintained within capacity, though infrastructure improvements are needed to
sustain growth.
Cox's Bazar: Tides of joy and togetherness
Cox's Bazar
welcomed over 350,000 tourists in three days following Eid. From Laboni to
Kolatoli, visitors enjoyed beach bikes, horse rides, jet skis, or leisurely
strolls along the shore, capturing photos and selfies.
Raihanur Rahman
from Dhaka said, "I have never seen so many people or such hustle and
bustle on the shore. It feels great to see the joy of so many people." A
group from Sylhet estimated nearly 200,000 visitors at once using a drone.
Safety was
maintained despite the crowds. Md Imtiaz Ahmed of the Sea Safe Lifeguard
Organisation noted the challenge of securing over 100,000 bathers daily with
just 27 staff.
Tourist Police
patrolled beaches, hotels, and entertainment zones around the clock. Tourists
also explored Marine Drive, Himchhari, Inani, Ramu, Maheshkhali, Dulahazara
Safari Park, and the Burmese Market, with no incidents reported.
Sixty Dome Mosque: Heritage bursting at
the seams
The 650-year-old
Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat saw record crowds. Thousands of domestic and
international visitors explored the complex, photographed its architecture, and
enjoyed the surrounding grounds, while children played nearby.
Mehedi from
Munshiganj shared, "Seeing this historic monument has been a lifelong
wish, and the environment is beautiful."
Custodian Md Zayed
reported 22,760 visitors over four days, generating Tk627,910 in revenue.
Managing the large crowds posed challenges despite the support of tourists and
district police.
















