Clouds blanketed the sky and relentless rain battered the shore, but Cox's Bazar still heaves with Durga Puja crowds, where every hotel room was snapped up as holidaymakers defied the storm to revel by the sea despite a cautionary signal No. 3, reports bdnews24.com.
Thousands from across the country have flocked to Cox's Bazar to spend their Durga Puja holidays, packing the beaches with festive crowds.
On Thursday afternoon at Sugandha Point, families were seen enjoying the waves even in the rain. Many captured photographs with raindrops on their faces, while children raced across the sand.
Nusrat Jahan, a tourist from Dhaka, said: "The weather may be rough, but for us it is a unique joy. Watching the sea in the rain is an extraordinary experience. But finding a hotel room was quite difficult."
Hotel owners said such crowds are now common during holidays.
Mukim Khan, general secretary of the Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners' Association, said: "This Puja and the long break have brought an overwhelming rush of tourists. Almost every hotel and motel room is sold out. Without advance booking, it is nearly impossible to get accommodation."
Abu Taleb, senior officer of Hotel The Cox Today, added that all their rooms had been booked in advance and none were available.
The rush has boosted local business. Fast-food stalls, restaurants, beach bikes, and photographers around the shore are all doing brisk trade.
Local trader Amir Hossain said, "Nature doesn't matter-people come here looking for joy. That has kept our businesses running."
Authorities, however, banned fishing boats and trawlers from venturing into the deep sea. Tourist police stepped up patrols to ensure safety on the beach.
Tourist Police Additional DIG of Cox's Bazar region, Apel Mahmud, said: "There are enough police at different points of the beach. CCTV surveillance has been increased and patrols strengthened to ensure tourists' safety."
The Met Office said a depression over the Bay of Bengal caused the sea to swell, prompting the signal No. 3 warning across coastal areas, including Cox's Bazar.
Still, visitors thronged the beach-umbrellas in hand, children on shoulders-bringing the holiday spirit alive despite the storm.
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