Cox's Bazar

Cox's Bazar District is a district in the Chittagong Divisiton of Bangladesh.. It is named after Cox’s Bazar, which is one of the world's longest natural sea beaches (120 kilometres (75 mi) including mud flats). It is located 150 kilometres (93 mi) south of Chittagong. Cox's Bazar is also known by the name Panowa ("yellow flower"). Another old name was Palongkee. The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Captain Cox (died 1798), an army officer who served in British India. It is one of the fishing ports of Bangladesh.

Contents :
                  1.     Geography

2.        History

3.        Subdivision

4.        Climate

5.        Economy and development

6.        Place of interest

Geography : Often termed as the world's longest beach, Cox's Bazar has yet to become a major tourist destination in Asia.Cox's Bazar district has an area of 2491.86 km². It is located at 21◦35’0’’N92◦01’0’E  / 21.583333°N 92.016667°E / 21.583333; 92.016667 and is bounded by Chittagong District on the north, Bay of Bengal in the south, Bandarban District on the east, and the Bay of Bengal on the west. Major rivers includeMatamukuri, Bakkhali, Reju Khal, Naf River, Maheshkhali Channel, and Kutubdia channel. The area of the city of Cox's Bazar is 6.85 km².

 

History :The history of Cox's Bazar begins in the Mughal period. On his way to Arakan, when the Mughal Prince Shah Shuja (1616-1660) passed through the hilly terrain of the present day Cox’s Bazar, he was attracted to the scenic and captivating beauty of the region. He commanded his forces to camp there. A place named Dulahazara, meaning "one thousand palanquins", still exists in the area.

After the Mughals, the place came under the control of the Tipras and the Arakanese, followed by the Portuguesse and then the  British.

The name Cox's Bazar/Bazaar derived from the name of Captain James Cox of the East India, who was in charge of the naval base. In 1854, Cox's Bazar was made a subdivisional headquarters.

After the end of British rule, Cox's Bazar remained part of East Pakistan.. Captain Advocate Fazlul Karim was the first chairman after independence from the British of Cox's Bazar municipality. He established the Tamarisk Forest along the beach to draw tourism to the town and to protect the beach from the tide. He donated many of his father-in-law's and his own lands to establish a public library and town hall. In 1971, the wharf was used as a naval port by the Pakistan Navy’s gunboats. This and the nearby airstrip of the Pakistan Air Rorce were the scene of intense shelling by the Indian Navy during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In 1984 Cox’s Bazar was made a District.

 Subdivisions :

There are eight upazilas under this district, namely:

1.        Chakaria

2.        Cox’s Bazar Sadar

3.        Kutubdia

4.        Maheshkhali

5.        Ramu

6.        Teknaf

7.        Ukhia

8.        Pekua

The population of Cox's Bazar includes Muslims, Hidus and Buddhists.

Climate :

The annual average temperature in Cox's Bazar is 34.8° C  and a minimum of 16.1° C . The climate remains hot and humid with some seasons of temperate weather. The average amount of rainfall is 4285 nm.

Economy and development :

The major livelihood of Cox's Bazar district is tourism. Millions of foreign and Bangladeshi natives visit this coastal city every year. A number of hotels, guest houses, and motels have been built in the city and coastal region and the hospitality industry is a major employer in the area.

A number of people are involved in the fishing and collection of seafoods and sea products. Oysters, snails, searls and jewelry made from shells are popular with the tourists in the seaside and city stores. A number of people are also involved in the transportation business for tourists. Many people of the district are farmers.

In 2002, a surfing club was initiated at Cox's Bazar by a local Bangladeshi. It has now extended to holding an annual competition including locals and foreign tourists. This is the first surfing initiative in Bangladesh's history.

Places of interest :

Sunset in Cox's Bazar.

Cox’s Bazar, mostly famous for its beautiful sea beach and the sunset, has several other attractions, including:

• Aggmeda Khyang a large Buddhist monastery, and a place revered by around 400,000 Buddhist people of Cox's Bazar Hill Tracts.
• Himchari, located about 8 km south of Cox's Bazar, is a picnic spot famous for its waterfalls. Birds and animals roam near the road.
• Inani Beach has interesting rocks and coral boulders. It is 32 km from the main beach. There are no facilities so a packed lunch is required.
• Coxsbazar Circuit House, located 2 km from Laboni Point, has a good viewpoint. The ocean can be seen from a height, and one can also enjoy the view of Cox's Bazar city.
• St. Martin’s Island., the only coral island in Bangladesh, is situated at 9 km south of Teknaf. It is a popular tourist spot.