Most Cox's Bazar Hotels and Resorts Lack Fire Extinguishers and Emergency Exits, Administration Moves After 10 Die at Tuptup

Meherunnesa Mila (30) woke to the heat of fire at the Tuptup Resort next to Marine Drive in Cox's Bazar. Before she could understand anything, the fire had spread. She did not even get a chance to check on relatives staying in the next room. She and her husband Masud Mia survived by breaking a window pane and jumping from the first floor. Another relative, Ashikul Islam, was with them. All three were injured.

On 17 October, 10 people died in a fire at Tuptup Resort at Patuartek beach in Inani, Cox's Bazar. Six of them were relatives of Meherunnesa Mila. They were residents of West Nandipara in Khilgaon, Dhaka. Nine cousins had come to Cox's Bazar on holiday together. They were due to return to Dhaka on the very day of the incident.

Ashikul Islam, who survived after losing his wife at the resort, said, “The resort had no emergency exit. The three of us survived by breaking the window pane and jumping outside.” After the fire spread through the wood-and-bamboo resort, they had to watch other relatives burn to death.

After this fire, concern has grown over holidays in Cox's Bazar, the country's main tourist centre. Not only Tuptup, risks have emerged at several hundred hotels and resorts built in Cox's Bazar town, Marine Drive and St Martin's as tourism has expanded. It is alleged that many of these establishments built without following rules have no fire-extinguishing system. Most establishments also have no emergency exit for quickly getting out in a disaster such as a fire or earthquake.

According to the hotel owners' association and people concerned, 8 to 9 million tourists visit Cox's Bazar every year. Over the past decade tourism has expanded not only in the town but also in the hill- and sea-side Marine Drive area. More than 700 residential hotels, resorts and cottages in these areas face allegations of fire-safety deficiencies, lack of environmental clearance and various irregularities.

Senior journalist Ahmad Gias, working in Cox's Bazar, said that apart from star-rated hotels, most hotels have no fire-extinguishing system or environmental clearance. They have no sewage treatment plant either. Even emergency exits at the time of an accident are absent at many establishments. These establishments are running day after day due to lack of administrative monitoring.

Shafiqul Islam, inspector of the licensing branch of Cox's Bazar Fire Service and Civil Defence, said all star-rated hotels have fire-extinguishing systems. Fifty-three mid-range hotels and resorts have applied for fire-safety licences. After scrutiny, 23 have been given licences. Notices are being issued to the others.

Cox's Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA) Secretary Sanjida Begum said, “Accidents are happening because most hotels do not have the necessary fire-extinguisher equipment and trained manpower. The issues often come to notice during mobile court operations.” According to CoxDA, there are about 2,500 establishments including shops on Marine Drive road. Among them, about 250 illegal establishments have been served notices.

Since April this year, the Department of Environment has served notices on 26 resorts and 10 restaurants for operating without environmental clearance. Fourteen resorts including Tuptup Resort have also been fined. CoxDA Chairman Engineer Jasim Uddin said about 250 establishments were recently served notices to remove unauthorised structures. He said action will be taken soon against all kinds of illegal structures.

In 1999 the government declared the area from Nazirartek in Cox's Bazar town to Shahporir Dwip an ecologically critical area (ECA). Environmental clearance from the Department of Environment is mandatory for building structures in these areas. Under the Environment Conservation Rules, 2023, resorts with more than 20 rooms must obtain environmental clearance. Khondkar Mahmud Pasha, deputy director of the Department of Environment in Cox's Bazar, said only 44 hotels and resorts have environmental clearance. And only 14 establishments have a sewage treatment plant.

Acknowledging the lack of proper administrative monitoring, Mukim Khan, general secretary of the Cox's Bazar Hotel-Resort Owners' Association, said, “For approval of one establishment, you have to run to at least 17-18 government offices. Entrepreneurs face various kinds of harassment in this. In this situation some people are building illegal hotels and resorts by managing the administration. The Tuptup incident has pointed out how unsafe Cox's Bazar's tourism industry is.”

Cox's Bazar Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Tasnim Jahan said, “Due to a manpower shortage, action cannot be taken against all illegal structures and activities. Now, irregularities identified in coordination with CoxDA and other agencies will be acted against.” Last Saturday the district administration held an exchange meeting with tourism stakeholders to ensure safe tourism in Cox's Bazar. At the meeting, hotel, resort and restaurant owners sought six months to fix irregularities including fire licences and environmental clearance. Tourism traders also demanded a one-stop service to get necessary services. Local MP Lutfur Rahman Kajol also supported launching a one-stop service centre to build a safe tourism city.

Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan said, “A decision has been taken to form a committee to examine how this demand can be implemented. The committee's recommendations will be sent to the relevant ministry. In addition, action will be taken soon against illegal hotels and resorts that have no minimum safety measures, to ensure safe tourism.”