Parki Beach, the ‘Mini Cox’s Bazar’, is Losing Its Tourists
Parki Beach in Anwara Upazila of Chattogram, widely known as ‘Mini Cox’s Bazar’, is losing its appeal among tourists due to severe infrastructure limitations, chronic traffic congestion, and growing security concerns. Situated at the mouth of the Karnaphuli River, this nearly 15-kilometre-long coastal destination was once a bustling hub on public holidays. However, poor road connectivity, narrow access routes, and a restrictive bridge entering the beach at Parki Bazar have created severe bottlenecks. Traders report that these ongoing communication hassles are driving visitors away toward alternative spots like Phultali Beach, threatening the local tourism economy.
Compounding the travel woes, the beach area suffers from a complete lack of streetlights, plunging large zones into darkness after sunset. Out of 52 remaining shops, only a handful have electricity connections, while local traders claim that Tourist Police have been absent for over a month and a half. Visitors like Solaiman from Chattogram city and Rahmatullah from Hathazari have voiced concerns over safety and infrastructure. Furthermore, unstructured vehicle parking along roads and the beach, despite parking ticket fees being collected, worsens the traffic gridlock and creates opportunities for harassment and snatching.
Md. Kashem from the Parki Beach Traders’ Association stressed that communication bottlenecks and security deficits are the primary drivers behind the tourism decline. He emphasised that local MP Sarwar Jamal Nizam and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer must intervene swiftly to upgrade the bridge’s capacity, establish designated parking, and install adequate streetlights. To manage transit during the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja idol immersion, Md. Kashem proposed utilising alternative routes such as Road No. 3 and Road No. 5 among the five access roads to ease vehicle movement and prevent severe congestion.
Law enforcement agencies have outlined extensive security measures for the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja and idol immersion celebrations. Nure Alam Siddiqui, In-Charge of the Bandar Police Outpost, stated that authorities are on high alert, with plans to deploy a dedicated police team to Parki Beach and secure festival routes if necessary. Mr. Siddiqui also addressed local administrative concerns, noting issues such as motorcycle-riding snatchers and irregular parking fees, which he intends to raise at the monthly Anwara Upazila law-and-order coordination meeting.
At the police station level, Anwara Police Station OC Md. Junaayet Chowdhury announced that comprehensive preparations are finalised for celebrations across 301 locations, comprising 112 permanent temples and 188 ‘Ghat Puja’ spots. To maintain absolute peace, six specialised patrol teams, alongside extra mobile patrols and plainclothes personnel, will be deployed across high-concentration areas. Following strict directives from the DIG of Chattogram Range and the Superintendent of Police, law enforcement remains fully committed to ensuring a secure and peaceful environment for all festival-goers and visitors.
