Legal notice served seeking suspension of unsafe parasailing at Cox's Bazar

A legal notice has been issued to the relevant government authorities, demanding an immediate halt to hazardous parasailing activities at Cox's Bazar Sea Beach, action against operators allegedly running the service without proper authorisation, and the establishment of a comprehensive safety framework for adventure tourism. 

The notice was issued today (4 August) by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Nishat Farzana, following the death of a tourist during a parasailing accident at Dariyanagar Beach in the Himchari area of Cox's Bazar on 1 August.

According to the notice, the tourist fell from a parasail during the activity and later died.

Describing the incident as "deeply tragic and heartbreaking," the lawyer said it exposed serious shortcomings in tourist safety and underscored the authorities' responsibility to ensure proper oversight.
The notice alleges that several private operators have been offering parasailing services without adequate safety measures, trained personnel or internationally accepted equipment standards.

It further claims that despite previous accidents, the authorities failed to establish effective monitoring and regulatory oversight.

It also refers to statements made by government officials after the incident, indicating that the operator involved did not have the required approval to conduct parasailing activities. 

While the administration maintained that tourist magistrates had been on duty to ensure visitor safety and that the incident occurred without their knowledge, the notice argues that the continued operation of unauthorised and potentially dangerous activities reflects administrative negligence.

The legal notice outlines eight demands, including the immediate suspension of all unsafe parasailing operations in Cox's Bazar, verification of operators' licences and safety compliance, the formation of an independent investigation committee to determine the cause of the fatal accident, and legal action against those found responsible.

It also calls for enhanced accountability of the tourist police and tourist magistrates, appropriate compensation for the deceased tourist's family, and public disclosure of the measures taken against the operator, Fly Air Sea Sports Parasailing, which conducted the activity at Dariyanagar Beach.

In addition, the notice urges the government to formulate and strictly enforce internationally recognised safety guidelines and a robust regulatory framework governing parasailing and other adventure tourism activities across the country.

The authorities have been given 15 working days to respond and take the necessary measures.

Failing that, the notice warns that legal proceedings in the public interest will be initiated.