Tourist Assaulted at Cox’s Bazar; Two Suspects Detained

A violent incident occurred at the Sugandha Point of Cox’s Bazar beach on Saturday, 18 April, resulting in the severe injury of a tourist. The assault took place in broad daylight on the sandy shores of the world’s longest natural sea beach. The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Md. Enam, a resident of Sapachari village in the Banshkhali Upazila of Chattogram and the son of Akchar Ahmed.

Sequence of Events

According to Inspector Md. Jahangir of the Tourist Police, the altercation began around 12:30 pm. Mr Enam was part of a group that had travelled from Banshkhali to Cox’s Bazar for a picnic. Upon arriving at the Sugandha Point, the group decided to bathe in the sea and subsequently rented three rubber tubes (locally known as “tyres”) from beach equipment operators.

Before entering the water, the tourists left three pairs of shoes in the custody of the tube operators for safekeeping. However, when the group returned from the sea, they discovered that one pair of shoes was missing. When the tourists questioned the operators regarding the missing property, a heated verbal exchange ensued.

The Assault

The situation escalated rapidly as several beach service providers, including horse-carriage handlers (locally known as ghorawala), photographers, and tube operators, formed an organised group to confront the tourists. The confrontation turned physical when these individuals launched a coordinated attack. Witnesses reported that Md. Enam was thrown onto the sand and subjected to a severe beating by the mob.

Upon receiving reports of the disturbance, beach workers from the District Administration and members of the Tourist Police arrived promptly at the scene. They intervened to rescue the victim and dispersed the attackers. Mr Enam, who sustained serious injuries during the assault, was immediately transported to a medical facility for treatment.

Incident Summary and Legal Action

The following table provides a concise overview of the verified details regarding the incident:

Police Response and Investigation

The Tourist Police have confirmed that two individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the violence. The detainees, identified as Md. Rubel (18) and Md. Shakil (18), both work as horse-carriage handlers at the beach. They have been handed over to the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Authorities have stated that an active operation is underway to identify and apprehend the remaining individuals involved in the assault, including the specific photographers and tube operators implicated by witnesses. The Tourist Police reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safety of visitors and stated that such acts of lawlessness by beach service providers will be met with strict legal measures.