Tourist Falls to Death After Parasailing Ban Ignored in Cox’s Bazar
A 30-year-old tourist died on Saturday after falling from a parasailing ride in Cox’s Bazar. Akshar Shouvik Roy, from Khulna, was on holiday with friends. The incident happened around 12:30 pm at Dariyanagar Beach.
Shouvik bought a 2,000 taka ticket for the ride. Shortly after takeoff, the parasail reached about 300 to 400 feet high. Then, he suddenly fell into the Bay of Bengal.
Employees of Fly Air Sea Sports Parasailing recovered him from the water. They took him to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. Doctors there declared him dead.
One of Shouvik’s friends spoke about the lack of help. He said there was no rescue team when Shouvik fell. They did not see any lifeguards at Dariyanagar. A speedboat rescued him but it was too late.
Sheikh Mohammad Ali, a police officer in Cox’s Bazar, confirmed the death. He said the body was sent to the hospital morgue. Police are investigating both the death and the parasailing company.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan said all parasailing activities were banned three days earlier. This ban was because of rough weather. He said some operators continued to offer rides without permission.
Mr. Mannan called the death tragic. He said the administration did not give permission for parasailing. An investigation is ongoing.
Sifat Saifullah supervises Sea Safe Lifeguards. He said 27 lifeguards work on a five-kilometre stretch of beach. However, there are no lifeguards from Dariyanagar south to Teknaf, a 115-kilometre area.
Nazrul Islam of the Cox’s Bazar Citizens’ Movement raised concerns. He said many operators ignore safety rules. They do not have international safety measures or trained staff. He also said they lack rescue boats and first-aid facilities.
Mr. Islam stated that risky activities like parasailing should stop. They should not restart until safety standards are checked.
A Dhaka resident named Kamal Uddin explained parasailing. A speedboat pulls the parasail with a strong rope. He said riders often lose control in the air. This increases the risk of falling. He added that no quick rescue system makes accidents fatal.
Local residents remember past incidents. Last year, on August 30, a female tourist got stuck in treetops at Dariyanagar beach. Earlier this year, another tourist was injured after falling into the sea.
