Tourist death unmasks Cox's parasailing failures

Published : Sunday, 2 August, 2026 at 5:03 PM

Observer Online Report

The death of a tourist during a parasailing ride at Cox's Bazar's Darianagar beach has exposed what authorities and tourism stakeholders describe as years of serious safety failures in the resort town's adventure tourism sector, with investigations revealing at least 19 tourists were injured in similar incidents involving the same operator over the past decade.

The victim, Akshar Shouvik Roy, 30, from Khulna, died on Saturday after falling into the sea while parasailing at Darianagar along the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive. The accident occurred despite an official suspension of parasailing operations due to adverse weather, prompting renewed scrutiny of the industry's safety standards and regulatory oversight.

According to officials, the fatal ride was operated by Fly Air Sea Sports Parasailing, one of three commercial parasailing companies operating in Cox's Bazar. District authorities say none of the operators had the required licences or fulfilled mandatory safety conditions to conduct the activity.

Investigations found that Fly Air Sea Sports had been linked to numerous previous accidents. Over the last 10 years, at least 19 tourists were reportedly injured after falling into the sea, crashing onto the beach or becoming trapped in nearby casuarina trees during parasailing rides.

Authorities also alleged that the company continued operating despite a district administration order suspending all parasailing activities from July 27 because of rough weather conditions.

The accident has reignited long-standing concerns over the lack of regulation governing commercial adventure sports at Bangladesh's premier tourist destination.

Besides Fly Air Sea Sports, two other operators; Funfest Parasailing at Himchhari and Satellite Vision Parasailing at Pechar Dwip beach also offer parasailing services. Following Saturday's fatal accident, all three operations have been suspended pending investigation.

Industry representatives blamed weak enforcement and inadequate supervision.

Mofizur Rahman, adviser to the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), said inexperienced personnel had been operating parasailing services without proper administrative oversight.

"Authorities repeatedly suspended parasailing operations, but some businesses resumed activities for profit, putting tourists' lives at risk," he said, adding that operators were rarely held accountable after accidents.

TOAB President Anwar Kamal said parasailing remained an attractive tourism product but should be operated according to international standards.

"Without trained personnel and proper safety systems, these accidents will continue and damage the country's tourism industry," he said.

Globally, parasailing is classified as a high-risk adventure sport. Commercial operators are generally required to obtain regulatory approval, employ certified personnel, regularly inspect equipment, conduct passenger safety briefings, maintain emergency rescue capability and comply with strict operational standards.

In Cox's Bazar, however, officials acknowledged that operators had failed to secure approvals from the district administration and other relevant authorities while continuing commercial operations.

Previous accidents illustrate the recurring safety concerns.

On 30 August 2025, a female tourist survived after the parasailing rope snapped, sending her into the sea and leaving her with serious injuries. During the same month, another woman became stranded atop a casuarina tree after being thrown from a parasail. Although the district administration temporarily suspended operations following those incidents, services later resumed.

Another tourist suffered serious injuries in May 2025 after falling into the sea during a parasailing ride.

Fire Service officials said they had never approved parasailing operations in the area.

"There is no Fire Service operation on the beach, and no operator sought our approval," said Syed Muhammad Morshed Hossain, deputy assistant director of the Cox's Bazar Fire Service and Civil Defence.

"If tourists drown or go missing, divers have to be brought from Chattogram."

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mannan said no company had been officially licensed to operate parasailing services.

"They obtained beach leases but not licences for parasailing. We have repeatedly conducted drives against them, but they resumed operations secretly," he said.

Following Saturday's fatal accident, executive magistrates seized parasailing equipment and related machinery from the site. Authorities said technical inspections and document verification were underway and legal action would be taken against those responsible for operating without authorisation.

Satellite Vision Sea Sports manager Mohammad Kaiyum claimed his company had operated since 2014 with two Thai trainers and 16 trained staff and had never experienced a major accident. He said the company suspended operations on July 27 in compliance with the administration's directive and conducts health screening and safety briefings before each flight.

A visit to Fly Air Sea Sports' facility on Sunday found the office locked and deserted, with speedboats left unattended on the beach. Local residents said the company's owner, Mohammad Farid, had gone into hiding after the incident, while employees fled before authorities arrived to seize equipment.

Repeated attempts to contact Farid for comment were unsuccessful.

Tourists visiting Darianagar said they were rarely informed about weather conditions, equipment safety or operational risks before taking rides.

They alleged that operators often encouraged visitors to participate by emphasising the thrill of the experience while failing to explain safety procedures or assess passengers' physical fitness.

Police said legal proceedings were under way. Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mohammad Ali of Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station said the victim's family had arrived from Khulna and the body would be handed over after an autopsy.

"If the family does not file a case, police will initiate one against the owner of the parasailing company," he said.

-HIS