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Kuakata beach abuzz with Eid holidaymakers

Tourists complain of getting ripped off by hotels and other local businesses

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali
Despite rough weather, a large number of tourists from across the country thronged Kuakata beach to enjoy their vacation during this Eid.
Many tourists however complained that different local businesses and service providers saw the huge tourist turn up as an opportunity to make a quick buck by overcharging for various services, especially for hotels rooms and beach chairs.
Yesterday, three days after the Eid was celebrated, this correspondent during a visit to the beach area found a good crowd of tourists still enjoying activities at the beach, while many others hopping around popular tourist attractions such as Zero Point, Eco-park, Gongamoti Char of red crabs, Lembur Char, Hilsha Park, market of Rakhine women, Kuakata and Mishripara Rakhine temples, and Rakhine weaver village.
Khulna resident Abdur Razzak and his four other family members came to Kuakata to have a good time together during the Eid holidays.
Even though it had been raining over the past three days, large waves and mesmerising scenic views made their visit worthwhile, he said.
Nausin Jahan, a student at Patuakhali Science and Technology University
(PSTU), was seen visiting the beach with her family members.
She frustratingly said the local beach chair rental businesses were ripping off tourists by overcharging.
She also said rental of a beach chair usually runs forTk 20 an hour, but during this Eid holidays, the tourists were being charged Tk 40 an hour.
When asked for the reason behind the steep charge, a beach chair businessowner, seeking anonymity, said they wait all year long for time such as this, when the demand is high and they can do brisk business.
Hotel fares in the beach town also shot through the roof as hotel owners were also taking advantage of the higher demand, said Wahidul Islam, who came from Barishal.
For a double bed non-AC room, he paid Tk 5,000 for a day, as opposed to its usual fare of Tk 2,000 to 2,500, added Wahidul.
Abdul Motaleb Sharif, secretary of Kuakata Hotel Motel Owners Association, said it is good for local businesses that more tourists are choosing Kuakata as their preferred destination during the Eid holidays.
Kuakata municipality Mayor Abdul Bareq Mollah said they installed security lights on the beach to better serve tourists during the holidays.