Patenga beach is fast becoming strange to the older residents of Chittagong. Where have those good old days gone when, we, as teenage boys and youths, used to pass the afternoons on the quiet beach. As the evening fell, we would see the frothy waves in the dark. Far away, the sea roared faintly, the large Sampans with blinking lights moving languidly.
Nowadays, the beach remains filled with visitors until long after the evening. In our times, crowds started thinning out shortly after sunset, which used to be the scene of a lifetime for many. On the almost deserted beach, we, the college-going youths would held impromptu sessions of song, where almost all of us would sing our favourite songs remaining oblivious to our hoarse, unmanageable voice. But we would enjoy a lot. All this was great fun.
On occasional visits to the beach, I become scared these days. The whole spectacle is changing, like the port city itself which once was famous for its lush green hills and hillocks. There are not many hills left in the city. Similarly, Patenga has long been bereft of its natural beauty. The beach area has turned into a virtual bazaar or fairground, where you will find everything ranging from fancy ornaments made of cowrie and beautiful sea-shells to toys and trinkets to snacks.
The other day, my wife and I became stunned to find a group of young ladies and their male companions on a shopping bout, scurrying along the seashore. From afternoon to evening, they did not bother to look at the sea for a while, let alone enjoying its beauty.
This is, however, an exceptional event. The reason I have mentioned the incident is to highlight the assemblage of myriad types of people on the beach.
The authorities have taken some measures to preserve the charm of Patenga. They need to do a lot more.
Salam Chowdhury
Halishahar Housing Estate,
Chittagong
Saving Patenga Beach
FE Team | Published: November 08, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like