Despite the announcement of great danger signal 10 in Cox's Bazar, many people were seen taking selfies and roaming around different beaches of the coastal areas in the last two days.
The reluctance of the tourists made headlines and photos and videos of the people went viral on social media, prompting the prime minister to intervene.
Even, some tourists were spotted at Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Chittagong's Patenga sea beaches on Sunday, at a time when Cyclone Mocha was crossing the Bangladesh coast before making landfall in Myanmar's Sittwe.
Many of these curious people went to Cox's Bazar all the way from Dhaka just to witness what a cyclone looks like or the extreme tidal surge.
Although the Tourist Police and local police drove most of them out, some were still seen violating the restrictions.
Talking to journalists, some tourists said they came along with their family members to experience the extreme weather.
Some also thronged Kuakata Beach on Sunday. One of them, Rakib Tasnim from Dhaka, said that he was having the best time of his life on the beach. He categorically said that he came to the beach with his family just to enjoy the turbulent weather.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman said despite the announcement of a great danger signal in Cox's Bazar and Kuakata, many people were seen going to the beaches.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked me over the phone to take steps to control people on the beach,” he said.
The premier also instructed the authorities concerned to move the tourists to safer places, he said, adding that all tourist activities were suspended.
Tourist policemen were seen using megaphones to warn people and asking them to return to their hotels. But despite repetitive calls, many remained on the beaches.
Hasnain Parvez, an inspector of the Tourist Police in Kuakata, said their requests to tourists fell on deaf ears, and many are still roaming around the beaches.
Meanwhile, groups of fishermen were seen fishing in coastal rivers ahead of the cyclone's landfall.
Hanif Sheikh, who was fishing in the Pasur River in Mongla, said: "The storm has not started yet and the water in the river is calm. We will leave before the storm starts.”
Another fisherman, Osman, said fishing is their only source of income. “We earn money from here. If we do not fish for one day, we will not be able to eat. We have to fight for our livelihood even during rains and storms,” he added.
