Cox's Bazar is the holiday capital of Bangladesh, but describing it only as a beach town is a reduction of its complexity. It boasts the longest unbroken natural sea beach in the world, stretching 120 kilometers. The sand here is not white but a shimmering grey, and the surf is rough and loud. For the average Bangladeshi, seeing the ocean here for the first time is an emotional milestone. The main town is a chaotic mix of high-rise luxury hotels, budget guesthouses, and markets selling Burmese goods. It is loud, crowded, and vibrant. But the true magic of the district lies away from the main Laboni point. The Marine Drive, a road that runs parallel to the sea all the way to Teknaf, offers one of the most scenic drives in South Asia. On one side, you have the Bay of Bengal crashing against the shore, and on the other, the green hills rise sharply. It is a landscape that feels prehistoric.
Economically, the district is driven by tourism, salt, and dried fish. The Nazirartek Shutki Palli is the largest dried fish processing area in the country. The smell is overpowering and hits you miles before you see it. Thousands of workers dry fish in the sun on massive bamboo racks, a process that feeds the national appetite for Shutki. However, the district has also changed profoundly in the last decade. It is now home to the largest refugee camp in the world. The Ukhiya and Teknaf areas host a million Rohingya refugees. Driving past the camps, you see hills covered in tarpaulin shelters, a sobering reminder of the geopolitical crisis sitting on the edge of this paradise.
Nature lovers escape to the islands. Moheshkhali is a short boat ride away and offers the Adinath Temple on a hill, providing panoramic views of the mangrove forest. St. Martin’s Island, the only coral island in the country, falls under this district's jurisdiction, though it is a journey to get there. The surfing community in Cox's Bazar is a growing subculture, with local boys and girls riding the waves, challenging the conservative norms of rural society. The food here is seafood-centric, with Loitta fry and coral fish being staples. Cox's Bazar is a place where the party never really stops, but where the stark realities of displacement and nature's power are always visible in the background.