Political instability ahead of the national election appeared as a big blow to Bangladesh’s tourism sector as most popular tourist destinations including Cox's Bazar, St. Martin, and Kuakata see sharp drop in the number of visitors. With up to 90 percent of advance bookings canceled, the once-bustling establishments face unprecedented vacancies as people are reluctant to travel amid the countrywide ongoing blockades and hartals enforced by the BNP and some other like-minded opposition parties. Tourism industry insiders claimed they had to count losses worth Tk 1.5 thousand crore  in the last several weeks due to cancellation of advance bookings in hotels, motels, and resorts across tourist hotspots until mid-January. Women's participation in the tourism industry should be increased: Speakers Hotel and motel owners said prior to October, over 50-60 percent of rooms in more than 500 hotels and motels in Cox's Bazar were booked daily. However, recent weeks have witnessed a drastic decline in tourists, reducing the number from half a lakh to a mere 5-10 thousand. Most of the visitors are predominantly locals. Similar circumstances prevail in Kuakata and St. Martin. Hotel and motel owners expressed concern about the ripple effect on their employees, as business downturns force layoffs and hinder salary payments. President of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), Shiblul Azam Qureshi, laments the impact on tourist spots like Cox's Bazar, St. Martin, Rangamati, and Kuakata. “Now is a critical period for the tourism sector. Bookings for November, December, January, and February—the prime tourist months—have been canceled,” he said.   He said Cox's Bazar, Kuakata, Sundarbans, Sylhet, Ratargul, Jaflong-Tamabil, Rangamati, and Patenga Beach, which should be bustling with tourists at this time, now lie empty. Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal should promote mutual tourism: PM Hasina He also said he has a hotel at St. Martin but its 90% rooms are lying vacant now. “With the tourism season typically starting in October and reaching its peak in November, the ongoing political unrest has resulted in nearly empty hotels and motels this month, with bookings canceled due to the blockade,” he said. Salim Newaz, General Secretary of  Cox's Bazar Hotel Motel Guest House Owners' Association, said over 500 hotels and motels are empty now due to the continuous blockade progrmame. 230 BGB platoons deployed on day 2 of blockade Mukhim Khan, general secretary of the Kalatali Marine Drive Road Hotel-Motel Owners' Association, estimated a staggering Tk 1000 to 1500 crore losses due to the prolonged blockade. He urged the concerned to keep tourist vehicles out of the purview of  hartals and blockades to salvage the tourism sector. Similarly, Motaleb Sharif, General Secretary of the Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners’ Association, said, safety concern has led to widespread booking cancellations, as people are reluctant to embark on risky journeys with their families amidst political instability. 48-hour blockade: Miscreants set fire to 3 buses in Natore

Bangladesh being on the tropical spectrum of the climate, experiences a moderate winter season. Apart from the northern regions of the country, the mild winter season makes for a perfect time to go for a vacation and explore the diverse landscape of the country. With that said, here are the 8 top popular tourist destinations in Bangladesh for spending winter vacation.  Top Place to Visit in Bangladesh During Winter  Saint Martin’s Island  One of the prime attractions of winter travel is Saint Martin’s island. This Bea coral island is situated in the south of Bangladesh off the coast of Cox’s Bazar. The ship operation to St. Martin remains closed from April to October. It begins in early November and runs through March for the winter and spring seasons.  Every year, millions of tourists flock to the island to experience the serene landscape and the blue lagoon all around. Getting to St. Martin Island is also easy. There are direct bus services from Dhaka to Teknaf. From Teknaf, there is an abundance of ships and launches going to St. Martin. It takes about two and a half to three hours by ship to get to the island.  Read more: Bandarban Tourist Spots – Best Places to See and Craziest Things to Do To protect the biodiversity and environment of this coral island, the government of Bangladesh has taken some initiatives. Tourists are required to take permission before visiting this island. Make sure to take ample winter clothes as nights can get pretty cold. Take note of the tides to experience the unobstructed beach along the coast of the island.  Kuakata  Kuakata is famous for being the only place in Bangladesh where one can enjoy both sunrise and sunset. Often referred to as the “Daughter of the Sea”, Kuakata is comparatively less crowded than Cox’s Bazar during the peak travel season.  Read more: Best Places for Honeymoon in Bangladesh

Kuakata, often referred to as the "Daughter of the Sea," is a picturesque coastal town nestled along the stunning shores of the Bay of Bengal in southern Bangladesh. Renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and serene ambiance, Kuakata has earned its place as one of the country's most sought-after tourist destinations. Naturally, several staycations have been developed here to accommodate the influx of tourists in every season. Let’s take a look at the most renowned hotels and resorts in Kuakata to spend vacations. Top Resorts and Hotels in Kuakata Sikder Resort and Villas Sikder Resort and Villas is one of the largest and most luxurious seafront resorts in Kuakata. The resort is situated opposite to the Eco Park. It is strategically positioned to provide easy access to the beach at any time of the day.  Sikder Resorts has three different accommodation options. Visitors can choose to stay either in the Lake View tower, the Villas, or the Sunrise and Sunset tower. If you don’t want to miss the sunrise and sunset Kuakata is so famous for, we suggest booking the Sunrise and Sunset Tower.  Currently, the resort is offering a monsoon special offer. Visitors can book from several options ranging from deluxe, superior, premier, and royal suites which cost 7590 BDT, 10,626 BDT, 12,144 BDT, and 34,155 BDT for two people per day. Services like buffet breakfast, swimming pool, jacuzzi, car parking, internet, and gym are complementary.  Read more: Khulna and Bagerhat Travel Guide: Best Places to See, Exciting Things to Do Somudra Bari Resort, Kuakata  Somudra Bari Resort is situated in Kalapara, opposite the Sikder market. The resort is within walking distance from the Kuakata Sea beachfront. Somudra Bari can be a perfect accommodation choice for those looking for economic options.  The resort is situated right beside the lake which provides an exceptional view of the horizon from their lake view suites. Visitors can even go on a boat ride in the lake at an additional charge. There are two types of rooms for couples -/ Deluxe AC Lake View and Deluxe AC Garden View. Additionally, single rooms are also available. Services like buffet breakfast, in-room tea, and parking facilities come as complementary with the stay. Last month, Somudra Bari was offering a 2-day 2-night stay package at 5,550 BDT for two. This month they are offering a 50% discount on all their rooms and services. Booking details are available on this resort's Facebook Page. Read more: 11 Cool Places in and around Dhaka to Visit on Eid Day with Family, Children Rose Valley Motel and Resort Rose Valley Motel and Resort is situated on the Kuakata main road, a bit away from the sea beach. While it's not very far from the beaches, it brings a sense of calm and quietness all around as there aren’t bustling people everywhere.  The resort can be a perfect vacation accommodation for budget travellers. There are five different room options ranging from Luxury suite, Superior deluxe to VIP suite. The cost ranges between 2500 BDT to 6500 BDT per night for two.  Room services, parking facilities, and wife come as complementary with the stay. Visitors can dine in-resort or choose from the several local restaurants nearby.  Read more: Top 25 hotels in Asia, according to Tripadvisor

Already hit-hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, when tourism and fisheries sectors in Kuakata are trying to make a recovery, frequent load shedding have dealt another blow. Bearing the brunt are hotel and motel owners in Kuakata, wholesale fish traders in the district’s Alipur and Mahipur landing stations, and trawler owners. When the government decided to stop buying liquified natural gas (LNG) from the international spot market because of a sharp price hike in July, the power supply situation began to deteriorate. Daily hour-long area-based load shedding started across Bangladesh from July 19, 2022 to tackle the ongoing energy crisis. Owners of hotels, motels, ice mills and fish traders said they are counting huge losses due to incessant power cuts. Read More: Kuakata Sea Beach, Bangladesh: Magnificent sunrise, sunset views to remember Motaleb Sharif, General Secretary of Kuakata Hotel Motel Owners Association and Owner of Kuakata Guest House, said that the number of tourists in Kuakata is dwindling due to rampant load shedding. “There are a total of 150 big and small hotels and motels in Kuakata. Although these establishments were abuzz with tourists, this isn’t the case anymore. We’re frustrated with up to six load shedding every day. Tourists are losing interest because of the inconvenience,” Motaleb said. He added that although they had informed the Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury about the problem and demanded establishment of a power sub-station in the area, no steps have been taken yet. Rahim Khan, owner of Khan Palace, said that refrigerators and air conditioners are being damaged due to the frequent power cuts. Read More: Dead dolphin washes ashore on Kuakata beach “We have to spend more than what we earn from the boarders. We experience load shedding even on weekends, which is discouraging tourists. Although a 1320 MW thermal power plant has been set up in Payra, people of Patuakhali are yet to reap its benefits,” Rahim said.

Hotel and restaurant owners in Kuakata on Wednesday embarked on an indefinite strike in protest against the frequent raids carried out by mobile courts. Md Selim Munsi, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association, said, "We will not call off our strike until these illegal raids are stopped." "Executive magistrates conduct raids almost every day in the area and fine us without any major reason, causing huge financial losses to us," he added. "We are being harassed by the mobile courts and have no option but to shut our hotels," he said. On August 11, a restaurant named Al Madina was fined Tk 25,000. Though the owner sought 15 days to fix the violation, he was again fined Tk 30,000 on Tuesday (Aug 16). Read: BSBMC students protest against 'unsafe' halls When the restaurant owner could not pay the fine, he was detained for some time, Munshi alleged. "If the local administration takes measures to resolve the problem, we will reopen our restaurants," he said. Meanwhile, Kuakata municipality mayor Anwar Hossain said, "We will talk to the authorities concerned over the issue."  

A youth who went missing while swimming at Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali has turned up in the Indian city of Chennai. The missing tourist Firoz Shikder, 27, himself contacted his family from Chennai on Saturday at 5 pm after remaining missing for the last seven days, said his brother Masud to UNB. On May 27, Firoz, a resident of Amkhola village in Patuakhali, went missing as he was swimming with some of his friends at Kuakata. Also read: Missing gold trader found dead after 5 months Quoting his brother, Masud said,”Firoz was pulled into the deep sea during high current and somehow found a log to hold on to. After some 24 hours of floating some Indian fishermen rescued him and handed him to Indian Coast Guard.” The Indian Coast Guard took Firoz to Chennai state and he is currently under the custody of the Indian government. Also read: Kishoreganj ferry tragedy: Woman drowns, child goes missing Abdul Khaleque, Assistant Superintendent of Kuakata tourist police said Firoz’s brother has informed them about the incident and they are looking into the matter.

Kuakata is a scenic travel paradise in the southern part of Bangladesh, known as the "Sagar Kannya" which means “Daughter of Sea”. It is one of the most beautiful and captivating places for traveling and leisure travelers. Not just in the country, Kuakata is now known all over the world. Standing at the same place on the beach, anyone can see the sunrise and sunset. Kuakata has a wide reputation for breathtaking natural scenic beauty. Are you planning to go on a vacation to Sagar Kanya Kuakata? Here are some essential travel tips. History and culture of Kuakata: Name and location The name Kuakata is derived from the word 'Kuya,' which means "well" (water that comes from the ground). There is a popular belief that the Arakanese were driven out of Burma by the Mughal rulers around the 18th century, landed on Rangabali Island off the coast of the Bay of Bengal, and settled in what is now Kuakata. There was a problem with drinking water then, so they dug a lot of wells here. Hence, the region was named Kuakata. However, it is a conventional idea, and found this information almost everywhere, including Wikipedia. However, this may not be fully accurate information. Read: You can now travel to Saint Martin's Kuakata is a location of pilgrimage for the Buddhist and Hindu communities. Countless devotees attend the holy Ras Purnima and Maghi Purnima festivals here. On this occasion, the pilgrims take a holy bath in the bay and also take part in the traditional fair. Kuakata is located in Kalapara Upazila, Patuakhali District. It is situated in the southern part of Bangladesh, and it is about 320 kilometers (200mi) south of Dhaka and 70 kilometers away from Patuakhali district headquarter. How to reach Kuakata? You can go by road or by the river through the launch. But whatever the way you take, you will reach there by 9-10 am in the morning. By road:  The distance by road from Dhaka to Kuakata is 380 km. From Dhaka several buses including Hanif Paribahan, Golden Line Paribahan, Survi Paribahan, Sakura Paribahan, Druti Paribahan go to Kuakata. Buses leave from Gabtoli bus stand for Kuakata. The fare of these buses is Tk. 800-1000 per person, while the AC bus fare is Tk. 1000+. The buses will drop you off near the beach, and you can walk to the beach. It takes about 13 hours to reach Kuakata by bus from Dhaka. Read Motorbike Riding in Winter: How to beat the cold weather? However, many people choose to travel by launch to enjoy the beauty of the river and consider the comfort. But there is no launch going directly to Kuakata from Dhaka. So, you have to take a launch from Dhaka Sadarghat to Patuakhali or Barisal and from there take a bus to Kuakata.

A carcass of a Ganges species dolphin washed ashore on Kuakata beach in Patuakhali on Thursday. Locals spotted the carcass, seven feet long, around late afternoon, reported our local correspondent. Witnesses told UNB that there were bruises on its face and they suspected the dolphin died after being hit by fishing net. Kalapara upazila senior Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said that the carcass belonged to Ganges river species (Platanista gangetica) of dolphins . Dolphins of this species usually survive by eating fish. As a result, it may die by getting trapped in fishing nets. Read: Another dead dolphin found on Kuakata sea beach He also didn’t rule out the possibility of natural death due to age.. Earlier on Sep 2, a 12-foot dolphin washed ashore in  Kuakata beach of Patuakhali. Before that, as many as 12 dead dolphins were found on the beach this year over a period of nine months. Among them, nine were recovered in August alone. In 2020, around seven dead dolphins were found on the Kuakata coast.

Police recovered the body of a young woman from a residential hotel of Kuakata here on Tuesday morning.

President Abdul Hamid urged all concerned to uphold Bangladesh’s cultural heritages.