COX'S BAZAR, Dec 31: Hundreds of thousands of tourists have thronged Cox's Bazar to mark new year's eve, eager to witness the year's final sunset from the beach and welcome 2026.
Throughout December, the world's longest natural sea beach remained vibrant with visitors from across the country amid the peak tourism season and winter charm.
However, to ensure security and public order, the authorities did
not permit any open-air concerts or cultural programmes on the Cox's Bazar beach this year as well. The administration has also banned fireworks, crackers, and sky lanterns along the shoreline.
To ensure overall security on New Year's Eve, the district administration and law enforcement agencies enforced a seven-layer security measure.
On Wednesday, a visit to Laboni, Sugandha and Kolatoli points revealed tourists bathing in sea water, spending time with family and loved ones on the sandy shore, and enjoying horse rides and beach biking in the scenic landscape.
At Laboni Point, tourists Samir Mallik and his wife Dipali Mallik said, "We came to Cox's Bazar with our family during the December holidays to celebrate New Year's Eve. We were a bit disappointed as there was no open programme, but the beauty of the sea has truly mesmerised us."
Another tourist from Dhaka, Alamgir Kabir, said, "The environment is beautiful and soothing. A small-scale programme on the beach on the last day of the year would have made it even more enjoyable."
Marking the occasion, star-rated hotels across the city have been decorated with festive lights, banners and festoons.
Abul Kashem Sikder, president of the Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners' Association, said, "All hotels, motels and guesthouses are fully booked for New Year's Eve. Despite demand, we are unable to provide rooms. More than 500 hotels, motels and resorts will remain fully booked until next Sunday."
Imran Hasan, managing director of Hotel Kollol, said, "We regularly arrange cultural programmes for guests. On New Year's Eve, the scale of such programmes has been slightly expanded, strictly in compliance with administrative directives and security measures."
To ensure tourists' safety, police, tourist police and other law enforcement agencies have intensified patrols across the beach, roads, hotel-motel zones and key locations. Most hotels have also strengthened their own security arrangements.
According to official directives: fireworks, crackers and sky lanterns are prohibited in the city and along the beach; no open-air concerts, or dance and music programmes
are allowed; bars and liquor shops will remain closed from 6:00 PM on December 31 to 6:00 PM on January 1; the spread of rumours or provocative statements on social media is prohibited; use of loud horns, reckless driving and joy rides are banned; eve-teasing or harassment of female tourists is strictly prohibited; hotels and motels must inform the detective branch (DSB) about indoor events and any suspicious individuals.
Md. Apel Mahmud, additional DIG of the Tourist Police, Cox's Bazar Region, said, "No open-air concerts or cultural programmes are permitted. Indoor events may be held with adequate private and police security. Multiple layers of special security have been put in place to ensure tourists' safety."
Abdul Mannan, district commissioner, said, "Considering tourists' safety, open-air New Year's Eve celebrations have once again been suspended. Multi-layered security arrangements were implemented on December 30 and 31, and no one is allowed to access the beach without security checks."
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