Bangladesh plans health centers at sea beaches to ensure tourist safety

Dhaka: The government is planning to establish health centers at sea beaches in Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali to ensure the safety and emergency healthcare support for tourists, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam on May 14.

The announcement came during a discussion meeting held at the conference room of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry with representatives of the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), and the UK-based donor organization Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which have been jointly operating the Sea Safe lifeguard service in Cox's Bazar since 2012.

The minister said revising existing policies is essential to strengthen tourist safety measures at sea beaches. She also directed the deputy commissioners of Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali to send proposals to the ministry as soon as possible for establishing health centers at the beaches.

State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said initiatives would be taken to increase the number of Tourist Police personnel deployed at tourist destinations. He also stressed the need to increase the number of lifeguards working on the beaches.

To continue the lifeguard service operations, the government will initially seek Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding, he said, adding that permanent infrastructure would be developed in the future, considering long-term needs.

Among others present at the meeting were Ministry Secretary Fahmida Akhtar and senior officials of the ministry, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, CIPRB, and RNLI.