Legal Action Threatened Against Cox’s Bazar Hotels Renting Rooms to Minors Without Age Verification

Hotels have been urged to verify guests’ identities and ages before assigning rooms, with authorities warning of legal consequences for owners and managers involved in violations.

Authorities in Bangladesh’s popular coastal tourist destination, Cox’s Bazar, have called for stricter guest verification at residential hotels, particularly when minors seek accommodation. Reserved-seat lawmaker Advocate Shamima Ara Swapna has warned that legal action will be taken if hotel owners or managers are found responsible for renting rooms to underage guests without properly verifying their identities and ages.

She made the remarks on Saturday (October 24) at a meeting on safe tourism organised by the Cox’s Bazar district administration. The meeting took place at Shaheed Subhash Auditorium of the Cox’s Bazar Institute and Public Library, bringing together hotel, motel and restaurant owners, tourism operators and representatives of various government agencies.

Swapna described allegations of hotels renting rooms without properly checking guests’ identities and ages as concerning. She stressed that negligence in guest verification could increase the risk of unwanted incidents and undermine efforts to protect visitors. Hotel operators, she said, must act responsibly to safeguard tourists and preserve Cox’s Bazar’s reputation as a major travel destination.

Schoolgirl’s Murder Case Raises Questions Over Hotel Verification

The discussion also touched on the killing of Jannatul Tazmin, a seventh-grade student from Cumilla. The body of the 13-year-old was recovered on October 8, drawing widespread public attention.

According to the report, the student had stayed at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar with her alleged boyfriend, Raju, before the incident. Information that her age had been recorded as 18 in the hotel’s registration book has renewed concerns about whether accommodation providers are adequately verifying the actual ages of their guests.

Cox’s Bazar Superintendent of Police ANM Sajedur Rahman said the incident in Cumilla had brought the coastal destination into the spotlight and could affect its public image. He urged stakeholders to remain vigilant so that individual incidents do not damage the reputation of the entire tourism sector.

Tourist Safety Concerns Extend Beyond Hotel Registration

The meeting also addressed two recent incidents that raised concerns about visitor safety. On October 17, a fire at TupTup Resort on Marine Drive reportedly killed 10 tourists. A few days later, on October 21, five tourists died after entering the water at Himchari Beach.

Following these incidents, participants emphasised the need to strengthen fire safety measures at hotels and improve safeguards for visitors at beaches.

The meeting was chaired by Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mannan. Cox’s Bazar-3 lawmaker Lutfor Rahman Kajol and representatives of the Fire Service, the Department of Environment and tourism-related organisations also spoke at the event.

Participants highlighted the importance of verifying guests’ identities and ages, protecting minors, improving hotel safety and maintaining a secure environment throughout the tourist area. They stressed that the growth of the tourism industry must go hand in hand with effective safety measures, responsible hotel management and proper oversight.