The government is planning to set up health centers on the beaches of Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali to ensure the safety of tourists. At the same time, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has also announced that necessary initiatives will be taken to further strengthen security measures in the beach areas.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, gave this information at a discussion meeting with the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), the organization that operates the Sea-Safe Lifeguard Service in Cox’s Bazar, and the donor organization Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) at the conference room of the ministry on Wednesday morning.
Minister Afroza Khanam MP said that it is very important to amend the existing policies to ensure the safety of tourists. In addition, initiatives should be taken to establish health centers for tourists on the beaches of Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali. She directed the concerned District Commissioners to send proposals quickly for this purpose.
State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, said at the meeting that initiatives will be taken to increase the number of tourist police members engaged in the safety of tourists. At the same time, it is necessary to increase the number of workers providing lifeguard services. He said that for now, initiatives will be taken to finance the operation of lifeguard services from the CSR fund. The government also has plans to build permanent infrastructure in the future.
The discussion meeting was attended by the Ministry’s Secretary Fahmida Akhtar, NDC, the Chairman of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, and senior officials of the Ministry, CIPRB, and RNLI. It is worth noting that the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB) has been operating lifeguard services at Cox’s Bazar beach since 2012 with the financial support of the UK-based donor organization Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
