Cox's Bazar District
Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh is one of the world's longest natural beaches (120 km). It is located 152 km south of Chittagong. Cox’s Bazar is also known by the name “Panowa”, the literal translation of which means “yellow flower”. Its other old name was “Palongkee”. The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Lieutenant Cox (died 1798), an army officer serving in British India. It is also one of the fishing ports of Bangladesh.
History
The history of the place goes back to the Mughal period. On his way to Arakan, when the Mughal Prince Shah Shuja passed through the hilly terrain of the present day Cox’s Bazar, he was attracted to the scenic and captivating beauty of the place. He commanded his forces to camp there and his retinue moving into 1000 palanquins halted there for some time. A place named Dulahazara, meaning "1000 palanquins", still exists in the area.
After the Mughals, the place came under the control of the Tipras and the Arakanese, followed by the Portuguese and then the British. After Independence it remained as part of East Pakistan. In 1971, the wharf was used as a naval port by Pakistan Navy's gunboats. This and the nearby airstrip of Pakistan Air Force was the scene of intense shelling by the Indian Navy during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Places
Cox’s Bazar, mostly famous for its beautiful sea beach and the sunset, has several other attractions including:
- Aggmeda Khyang [1], a large Buddhist monastery, and a place revered by around 400,000 Buddhist people of Cox’s Bazar; and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
- Himchari, located about 32 km south of Cox’s Bazar, is a picnic spot and famous for its waterfalls.
- Inani, also 32 km south of Cox’s Bazar offers sea bathing.
- Maheskhali is a small island (268 square kilometres) off the Cox’s Bazar coast. The island offers panoramic scenic beauty and is covered by low hills and mangrove forests. Adinath, a temple of Shiva, and a Buddhist pagoda are also located on the island.
- Ramu, about 16 km from Cox’s Bazar, is the name of a village with sizeable Buddhist population. The village is famous for its handicrafts and homemade cigars.
- Sonadia Island, a small island of only 9 square kilometers
- Teknaf, a place situated by the side of Naaf river is the southernmost part of Bangladesh. The place is home to several birds and wild animals.
Trivia
- Currently, Cox’s Bazar is a district, with Cox’s Bazar town as the district headquarters. In 1854, Cox’s Bazar was made a sub divisional headquarter, and it was only after 130 years in 1984, it was upgraded to become be a district.
- Population includes Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists (mostly includes Maghs, a section of whom belong to a tribal community of Buddhists)
- There are seven Upzillas, namely,
- Cox's Bazar Sader
- Ramu
- Ukhia
- Teknaaf
- Moheshkhali
- Kutubdia and
- Chokoria.
