The situation was similar at Sugandha, Seagal and Laboni Point. There, about a hundred people were lying on beach chairs along a three-kilometer stretch of beach. They were enjoying the view of the sea in front, but were not moving around much due to the heat.
Sifat Saifullah, supervisor of Sea-Safe Life Guards, a private lifeguard service, said the beach had already been crowded with thousands of tourists seven or eight days earlier. Now a maximum of 100,000 people gather at Sugandha Point. Not more than two or three thousand are seen swimming in the sea. Due to lack of tourists, the beach-centric tourism business has slowed down.
Abul Kashem Sikdar, president of the Cox's Bazar Hotel Guesthouse Owners Association, said although there are no tourists, more than a hundred hotels and guesthouses have not closed for the season. He said that all the hotels and restaurants are under maintenance and repair. About 60 percent of the employees have been paid their salaries and Eid bonuses in advance and have been given one month's compulsory leave. Currently there are around 4000 to 5000 guests in hotels and guesthouses.