A tourist was killed and seven others were injured when a ‘Chander Gari’( a vehicle that usually carries tourists) fell into a ditch while returning from Sajek on Friday. The deceased was identified as Fardin Hasan Bishal, 35, hailing from Dhaka's Shyampur. The identities of the injured could not be confirmed immediately. The accident occurred around 5pm when the Chander Gari reached Khasrang Hill Resort area from Sajek’s Konglak Hill, overturned and fell into a ditch, said Nurul Alam, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station. Later, a team of Bangladesh Army and police rescued the injured people and took them to Dighinala Upazila Health Complex for treatment, added the OC. The rescue operation is still going on till the filing of this report at 7:15pm.

Elena, a Romanian tourist, has always wanted to travel the world on a bike. She has so far visited 29 countries. Elena came to Satkhira on Monday from India and is now staying at a private organization ‘Rishilpi International’, at Binerpota in the district. Elena’s Italian friend Andreya came to Satkhira by bike one month ago and he is a donor of Rishilpi International. Also read: Satkhira journalist, earlier ‘picked up by law enforcers’, shown arrested. Besides, at the invitation of Elena and Andreya, their friend Elierio also came to Satkhira through Bhomra land port on Tuesday. Elena said, “I am a tourist and I have been traveling for the last three years, and have already visited 29 countries. I like Muslim countries and I love the culture of the country. I am now observing everything.”

One person was dead and seven were injured when a vehicle carrying tourists overturned on Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive around 10 pm on Friday (January 06, 2023). The deceased was identified as Momotaz Begum, 60, from old Dhaka’s Wari area. Quoting the survivors, Anwarul, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ramu police station, said the accident occurred when the driver of the vehicle — carrying 12 tourists, returning to Cox’s Bazar from Inani — lost control of the wheels. The vehicle overturned on Marine Drive near Himchari police station last night, leaving eight people, including the driver, injured.   Read More: Life insurance official cushed under train in Khilgaon The identities of the others injured could not be confirmed immediately but all the victims are relatives. On information, police with the help of locals rescued the victims and sent them to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital. Police also seized the vehicle and kept it at Himchari police station. “Momotaz Begum died on the way to the hospital. The injured are currently undergoing treatment and three of them are in critical condition”, the OC said. Read More: Narail boat capsize: Death toll climbs to 5.

A 52-year-old tourist died while taking bath at Sugandha point of the sea beach in Cox’s Bazar on Monday. The deceased was identified as Iqbal Hossain, 52 of Tongi in Gazipur district. Masud Billah, acting executive magistrate of Tourist Cell under the local administration, said Iqbal along with six other members of his family went to the beach area at noon. Read: Tourist dies after hot water shower at Cox's Bazar hotel At one stage, Iqbal fell unconscious while bathing in the sea. Later, workers of local administration rescued him and took him to Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The weekend melding with Christmas falling on Sunday this year, translating to a 'long weekend', has brought life to the country's tourism sectors including Sajek Valley. At the same time, it has also brought suffering to the tourists who have gone to enjoy the scenic beauty of Sajek valley. Thousands of holidaymakers of all ages have thronged to the hill district to enjoy the beauty of Sajek at Bagaichhori in Rangamati. Resorts are experiencing a room crunch as more tourists enter Sajek - already almost double its capacity! As a result, many tourists are forced to spend the night in cars or in mosques and local clubs. Sultan Mia, 28, who came with his family from Mymensingh and Ashraf Ali, a tourist from Netrakona, said that they had come because of their children's holidays. But there is no room vacant in any hotel due to the overflow of tourists, leaving them in great trouble. Alfred Lusai, the owner of two Sajek resorts (Neel Pahari and Morning Star), said that rooms were booked almost a month before Christmas. Today, many tourists can't get even a single room which is really sad, he added. Read more: Jhum fire destroying reserved forest in Sajek According to Sajek Resort Owners Association, almost 7,000 tourists entered Sajek on Saturday. The valley's 112 cottages can accommodate only 4,000. Many of the tourists who came here did not have advance bookings. As a result, many tourists returned in the afternoon due to lack of rooms for overnight stay, sources added. Those who stayed are passing the night by renting rooms on the verandas of various cottages and in the homes of local residents. Subrata Chakma, manager of Khasrang Hill Resort, said that the inflow of tourists started on Wednesday. No rooms are available at any resort currently, he added. Read more: Visit Sajek Valley: Amazing Hilltop Cottages, Resorts, to Spend Your Vacation

A tourist was killed in a head-on collision between ‘Chander Gari’( a vehicle that usually carries tourists) and a motorcycle on his way back from  Sajek of Baghaichari Upazila in Rangamati.   The dead was identified as Hridoy, 30.  Details about him are yet to be known.  The accident occurred around 1:15 PM.   Officer-In-charge (OC) of Sajek Police Station Nurul Haque confirmed that the collision occurred in the Machalong area.  Read more: Tourist killed in Rangamati road accident After the accident, the seriously injured Hridoy was rescued and sent to Dighinala Upazila Health Complex with the help of locals.   He died while undergoing treatment there.   Jerry Lusai, General Secretary of Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners Association, said, they are struggling to keep up with the influx of tourists and additional traffic.   “Sajek's resorts and cottages are fully booked for the New Year”, he said.  

Tourists have started leaving Bandarban district as local administration has imposed a temporary ban on tourism at Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas from Tuesday (October 18, 2022) morning as a security drive was going on to either arrest or remove suspected militants and criminals from the hilly region. The administration has also discouraged tourists to travel to Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas amid security operations of the joint forces in the bordering areas of Ruma and Rowangchhari. The military was joined by the members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in the drive as the security officials were conducting extensive searches in the surrounding villages. Read Temporary ban on tourism at Rowangchhari and Ruma to fight terrorists Military helicopters of the security forces were also patrolling the areas. On Monday night, Bandarban’s district administration imposed the travel ban at Rowangchhari and Ruma. On Tuesday morning, tourists carrying vehicles heading for Thanchi had been sent back to Bandarban sadar upazila from Milanchari police outpost, said Md Kamal Hossain, general secretary of Bandarban Micro-jeep-mahendra Owner’s Cooperative Association. Read BIPSS roundtable: Bangladesh needs proper strategies to counter terrorism. The tourists are only allowed to visit Meghla and Nilachal Tourism spots in the hilly town, he said. Most of the hotels were vacant and bookings have been canceled after the ban, said the hotel owners in Bandarban. Authorities of the Hotel Hilton and the Hotel Hill View said those who came to stay on Tuesday morning have canceled their plans and some headed toward Cox’s Bazar. Read Militants' involvement with CHT's KNF group being investigated On Tuesday morning, a group of 70 people were supposed to check-in at the Sairu Hill Resort at Thanchi, but they couldn’t reach as the Thanchi road was blocked, Mir Atiqur Rahman, deputy manager of the luxury residential complex, told UNB. “A group of 40 people also checked out in the morning, so the resort is empty now,” he said. Md Tariqul Islam, Superintendent of Police in Bandarban, said that the movement of tourists in Bandarban was being prohibited or discouraged by the orders of the higher authorities. Read Govt out to create anarchy through terror acts: BNP

After almost coming to a standstill during the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism is bouncing back. This is good news for many workers and businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, but it could be bad for the planet. Around 2 billion people travel each year for tourism. Travel and tourism connect people and bring the world closer through shared experiences, cultural awareness and community building. It provides jobs, spurs regional development, and is a key driver for socio-economic progress. However, there is often a downside. Many popular destinations are threatened by increasing pollution, environmental hazards, damage to heritage sites and overuse of resources. And that is without factoring in the pollution caused by travel to and from these destinations, according to UN News. We have some tips for you though, on what you can do to avoid some of the damages Say no to single-use plastics Often used for less than 15 minutes, single-use plastic items can take more than 1,000 years to break down. Many of us are switching to sustainable options in our daily lives, and we can take the same attitude when we are travelling. By choosing reusable bottles and bags wherever you go, you can help ensure there is less plastic waste in the ocean and other habitats. Use water wisely On the whole, tourists use far more water than local residents. With a growing number of places experiencing water scarcity, the choices you make can help ensure people have adequate access to water in the future. By foregoing a daily change of sheets and towels during hotel stays, we can save millions of litres of water each year. Buy local When you buy local, you help boost the local economy, benefit local communities, and help reduce the destination's carbon footprint from transporting the goods. This is also true at mealtimes, so enjoy fresh, locally-grown produce every chance you get. Find an ethical tour operator Tour operations involve people, logistics, vendors, transportation and much more. Each link in the chain can impact the environment – positively or negatively. If you prefer to leave the planning to someone else, be sure to pick an operator that prioritizes the environment, uses resources efficiently and respects local culture. Don't share food with wildlife Sharing food with wildlife or getting close enough to do so increases the chances of spreading diseases like cold, flu and pneumonia from humans to animals. Also, when animals get used to receiving food from humans, their natural behavior is altered, and they become dependent on people for survival. In some cases, it can also lead to human-animal conflict. Read: Tourism is a powerful driver for sustainable develop

A young college student went missing from Kalatali point of Cox’s Bazar sea beach on Monday when he went to take a bath in the sea. The missing tourist was identified as Adnan Maruf, son of Md Rezaul Karim and a student of Gazipur Metropolitan College. The incident occurred around 1:30 pm when Adnan and his two friends from Gazipur ,Masum and Shawon went into the sea defying the local cautionary signal three, hoisted due to low pressure in the Bay, said Md Rezaul Karim, Additional Superintendent of Cox’s Bazar tourist police. Also read: Missing college student's body found in Pangasia canal Beach staff Md Mahbubul Alam said of the three youths Masum managed to swim ashore when the sea turned turbulent as he didn’t go too far but Adnan and Shawon could not. Lifeguard staff managed to rescue Shawon rushing by a water bike but Adnan went missing, he said. Shawon is currently admitted at the district sadar hospital, said police. The three friends from the same college came to Cox’s Bazar on Sunday. Also read: Sunk bulkhead's missing worker found dead Additional District Magistrate Md Abu Sufiyan said a rescue drive will be conducted till finding the missing tourist.

Cox’s Bazar tourist police have warned visitors to avoid the beach area as the sea remains rough due to the impact of a depression in the Bay of Bengal. The Met office has advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to keep hoisted local cautionary signal No. 3. Under its influence, light to moderate showers accompanied by squally winds have been occurring in Cox’s Bazar since Wednesday morning. Md Rezaul Karim, additional superintendent of Cox's Bazar Tourist Police, said they are discouraging tourists from entering the beach area to avoid any untoward incident. The tourist cops patrolling the beach have been making announcements and creating awareness among the tourists.  Abdul Hamid Mia, chief meteorologist at Cox's Bazar Meteorological Office, said all fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice. Read:Swelling rivers inundate low-lying areas of Barishal city The depression over coastal Odisha and the adjoining Northwest Bay moved westwards and weakened into a well-marked low on Wednesday. On Thursday, the well-marked low over Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas of India moved westwards, weakening into a low pressure area over Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas. Steep pressure gradient persists over the North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh. Squally weather may affect the maritime ports, the North Bay and the adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, as per the bulletin.