COX'S BAZAR, Apr 13: A fairly large number of tourists arrived in Cox's Bazar town to celebrate Pahela Baishakh.
Most of the residential hotels of the town are now swarming with tourists, according to the Hotel Motel Owners Association.
"At least 1.50 lakh tourists are already staying at about 450 hotels of the town and it's adjoining areas until Friday. More tourists will arrive today (Saturday)", General-Secretary of the association Abul Kashem Sikder told this correspondent.
Tourists are set to enjoy the programs of Pahela Baishakh on the world's longest sea beach today.
Cox's Bazar district administration arranged discussion meeting, cultural function to celebrate the Bangla New Year.
Different NGOs, hotels, educational institutions and local social organaisations arranged various programmes including pantha iilish, food festival, pitha festival, sports and cultural functions.
Cox's Bazar district police administration beefed up security measures in the town to make sure the tourists and local celebrate the festival peacefully.
On the other hand, the tourist town is facing acute shortage of Hilsa fish ahead of Pahela Baishakh. The price of hilsa has increased three times ahead of Bangla New Year.
A section of hilsa traders allegedly created artificial crisis on the local markets although the price was lower two weeks ago. During visit to the hilsa markets of the town this correspondent found on Friday that only a few hilsa traders are selling fish at retail level.
A one kg hilsa sold on the wholesale market for Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,300 while it was only Tk 700 to Tk 900 two weeks ago. Hilsa of 800 to 900 gramms sold at Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,500 while it sold only Tk 500 to Tk 600 a few days ago.
Hilsa traders said that they are not getting the fish from wholesalers due to the shortage as wholesalers are supplying the delicacy to Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rangpur and different districts.
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