Uncertainty over financing threatens the shutdown of Cox's Bazar's lifeguard service, SeaSafe.
The future of the SeaSafe lifeguard service at Cox's Bazar Sea Beach remains uncertain, with funding issues threatening its closure beyond September 2022[1][4]. The service, which has saved 782 lives from drowning over the past decade[5], is currently operational but faces a potential shutdown as efforts to secure sustainable funding have not yet been finalized.
Despite the uncertainty, SeaSafe lifeguards remain active, especially given the steady influx of tourists to the beach during the hot season[3]. However, incidents such as drowning at areas without lifeguard coverage highlight ongoing safety risks and the critical role SeaSafe plays in protecting visitors[2].
The SeaSafe project, a collaborative effort between the Cox's Bazar district administration, the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and the Monaco Foundation[6], has been operating under a six-month extension and another three months[7]. But the continuation of the project beyond October 2022 remains uncertain.
Efforts to secure the project's continuation have been made. Shaikul Islam Helal, senior adviser at the CIPRB, has spoken to the ministry and the secretariat about the project's continuation, but there has been no positive response yet[4]. The Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin is also trying his best to keep the project running[3].
The SeaSafe team members are not only worried about their livelihoods but also about the safety of tourists. Osman Goni, one of the team leaders, stated that they have heard nothing about further extensions[8]. Imtiaz Ahmed, team manager at SeaSafe project, echoed this sentiment, stating that they have received no news about the project's continuation beyond October 2022[9].
The personal sacrifices made by the SeaSafe team are noteworthy. They work for years on modest salaries, driven by their love for the sea and for people[10]. Osman Goni highlighted this, stating that they put their own lives on the line as part of their work[1].
In the past year alone, 78 people were rescued and 11 lost their lives to the sea[5]. The loss of these lives underscores the importance of the SeaSafe project and the need for its continuation. A letter has been sent to the ministry regarding the SeaSafe project's continuation, but no reply has been received yet[4].
As the future of the SeaSafe project hangs in the balance, it is hoped that authorities or stakeholders will arrange funding to continue its operations and prevent closure. The lifeguards, who are constantly alerting people and ready for rescue operations, make tourists and residents feel safer[2]. The impact of the SeaSafe project, with its significant number of lives saved, cannot be overstated.
[1] The Daily Star, "SeaSafe lifeguard service at Cox’s Bazar may close down," 15 August 2022. [2] The Daily Star, "Drowning at Shaibal Point in Cox’s Bazar," 10 August 2022. [3] The Financial Express, "SeaSafe lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar may close down," 16 August 2022. [4] The Independent, "SeaSafe lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar faces closure," 15 August 2022. [5] The Financial Express, "SeaSafe lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar saves 782 lives in a decade," 10 August 2022. [6] The Daily Star, "SeaSafe lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar," 1 January 2013. [7] The Financial Express, "SeaSafe lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar granted extension," 15 October 2021. [8] The Independent, "SeaSafe lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar may close down," 15 August 2022. [9] The Daily Star, "SeaSafe lifeguard service at Cox’s Bazar may close down," 15 August 2022. [10] The Financial Express, "SeaSafe lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar saves 782 lives in a decade," 10 August 2022.
The SeaSafe team, dedicated to health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise, is not only concerned about the continuation of their service but also the safety of beach visitors. The collaboration between the CIPRB, RNLI, Monaco Foundation, and Cox's Bazar district administration, focusing on science and lifeguard operations, has saved 782 lives from drowning over the past decade.
