After facing charges that they were acquiescing to radical Islamists, Bangladeshi officials have scrapped plans to establish a separate beach just for women only women after social media backlash. Officials in Cox's Bazar opened a section of the world's longest natural sea beach especially for women and children on Thursday. However, they stated a few hours later that they were abandoning the plan.

Officials stated that the decision to separate the beach was made in response to demands from certain conservative ladies. "(The women) sought a separate beach part because they felt uncomfortable and uneasy in a crowded environment," Abu Sufian, a senior official in Cox's Bazar, told the media.

The decision to create an exclusive beach comes after the shocking gang rape of a woman in Cox's Bazar last week, which sparked a national uproar about women's safety in the area.

The decision, however, sparked outrage on social media, with opponents accusing the administration of caving in to radical Islamists who recently staged enormous protests demanding gender segregation in workplaces and industries. The beach segregation was dubbed "Talibistan" by one critic, referring to the Taliban Islamist organisation, which has recently restricted women's rights in Afghanistan.

Cox's Bazar is one of Bangladesh's most popular tourist destinations. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to the city over the holidays, and the tourist industry has exploded in recent years.To provide security to the growing number of tourists, authorities have set up a tourism police unit to patrol beach towns.

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