Only 52 of Over 500 Marine Drive Hotels and Resorts Applied for Fire Licences

More than 500 hotels, resorts and restaurants have sprung up along the 80-kilometre Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive to serve tourists drawn to the area’s hills, sea and natural beauty. However, only 52 of these establishments have applied for fire service licences, while there is no permanent Fire Service station along the entire tourist route.

The gap in fire safety has come under renewed scrutiny following a devastating fire at Tuptup Resto and Resort in Patuartek, Inani, which killed 10 people and injured six. The incident has raised concerns about tourist safety, the legal status of hospitality businesses and the capacity of emergency services to respond quickly.

Available information shows that just 52 of the more than 500 hotels, resorts and restaurants along Marine Drive have applied for Fire Service licences. Although the figures do not establish the licensing status of every remaining establishment, they have prompted questions about the effectiveness of fire safety monitoring.

There are allegations that some businesses operate without the necessary approvals and adequate firefighting equipment.

Local residents and tourists believe that expert assessments and administrative inspections are needed to identify which establishments are operating legally, which lack licences and where safety measures are inadequate. They say protecting lives must receive as much attention as developing tourist attractions and expanding businesses.

No permanent fire station along Marine Drive

One of the biggest challenges along Marine Drive is the limited availability of emergency firefighting services. When a fire breaks out at different points along the long tourist road, responders have to be called from Fire Service stations in Ukhiya or Cox’s Bazar.

Locals complain that reaching various locations along Marine Drive via Court Bazar from the Ukhiya Fire Service station takes considerable time. Some locations are around 22 kilometres away, raising fears that a fire could spread before rescue teams arrive, even after an emergency call has been made.

Local resident Md Mubin claimed that Fire Service personnel took around one and a half hours to reach Tuptup Resort after the fire was reported. He said the delay made it more difficult to control the blaze and minimise the damage.

Another resident, Ibrahim Ahmed, said Patuartek in Inani was an important tourist destination but lacked adequate facilities to deal with fires. The area depends on the Ukhiya Fire Service station, and the distance delays emergency response, he said.

He added that fires had previously broken out in local homes, with some houses burning down before firefighters arrived. According to him, land is available in the area for establishing a Fire Service station.

Local resident Rashedul Islam also called for a station to be established without delay, saying residents had been waiting for action despite raising the demand for a long time.

Resort had no fire licence, Fire Service chief says

The fire at Tuptup Resto and Resort has also raised questions about the establishment’s fire safety arrangements and licensing status.

At a press conference in Dhaka on Saturday (October 17), Fire Service Director General Brigadier General Sultanul Afrin said the resort did not have a Fire Service licence. He said the authorities had previously been warned but had not obtained the required approval.

The incident has therefore raised concerns not only about safety at an individual establishment but also about the effectiveness of fire safety oversight across the wider tourist area.

Tourist Sirajul Islam said both the administration and hotel authorities had a responsibility to ensure visitors' safety. Fire safety arrangements should be checked regularly before an establishment opens and throughout its operation, he said.

He added that adequate firefighting equipment, safe exit routes and effective preparations for emergencies could help reduce the risk of deaths in accidents.

Another tourist, Mobarak Hossain, said the absence of nearby Fire Service stations could make it difficult to obtain emergency assistance quickly. Tourists should also have access to information about which establishments hold valid licences, he said.

Administration plans stronger inspections

The Ukhiya upazila administration has said it will intensify inspections to verify the legal status of hotels and resorts and assess their fire safety arrangements.

Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Panna Akter said the administration conducts inspections of hotels and resorts from time to time. These operations would be stepped up following the recent fire, she added.

She said several members of the Beach Management Committee and an executive magistrate from the district administration had inspected a number of hotels and resorts recently.

Future inspections would focus on the legal status of establishments, Fire Service licences, firefighting equipment and preparedness for emergencies, she said.

However, those concerned say inspections alone will not be sufficient. Effective action against violations and regular follow-up monitoring will also be necessary to ensure compliance.

Fire Service plans station and rescue unit

The Fire Service has said it plans to establish a station along Marine Drive to address the shortage of emergency firefighting services.

Syed Mohammad Morshed Hossain, deputy assistant director at the Cox’s Bazar office of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said firefighters currently have to travel from the Ukhiya station to locations around 22 kilometres away to tackle fires.

Establishing a station along Marine Drive would make firefighting operations faster and easier, he said.

He added that there were also plans to establish a land-based unit and a diving unit in the area. If implemented, the plan would strengthen the capacity to control fires and conduct rescue operations.

Those concerned say tourism businesses along Marine Drive play an important role in the local economy and employment. However, the expansion could become a major source of risk if visitor safety is not ensured.

The figures showing that only 52 of more than 500 establishments have applied for Fire Service licences, combined with the absence of a permanent fire station and complaints about lengthy emergency response times, highlight significant weaknesses in the area's fire safety arrangements.

Establishing a Fire Service station promptly, verifying hotel and resort licences and other approvals, ensuring adequate firefighting equipment and conducting regular safety drills are now urgent priorities.