Saint Martin’s Island, the only coral island in Bangladesh, is renowned for its breathtaking beauty, drawing countless tourists eager to explore its hidden splendours.
However, following the interim government's assumption of power, a series of decisions aimed at preserving the island's environment temporarily curtailed tourism. After a prolonged hiatus, the wait is finally over.
From Thursday (28 November) tourist vessels will resume operations between Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martin’s Island.
Ministry of Environment has imposed strict limits - no more than 2,000 tourists may visit the island daily, and overnight stays are prohibited from November and February.
Exceptions have been made for December and January, during which overnight stays will be permitted.
Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nilufer Yasmin Chowdhury, who is also the chairperson of the committee for regulating tourism to Saint Martin’s, told media, “The first meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday in the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Parishad conference room. After discussions with committee members on environmental and logistical issues, we designated the BIWTA jetty at Nuniachhara, Cox’s Bazar, as the departure point for vessels heading to the island.”
She added, “In accordance with the ministry’s directives, no more than 2,000 tourists will be allowed to travel to the island daily. Overnight stays will remain banned in November and February, although they will be allowed in December and January.”
On Monday, the district administration granted permission for the tourist vessel Keari Sindbad to resume operations, following an application for approval. Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADM) of Cox’s Bazar, confirmed, “The district administration reviewed the application and approved the vessel for operations from Cox’s Bazar.”
The Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ministry had issued directives on 19 November, under the signature of Senior Assistant Secretary Sabrina Rahman. These directives included forming a six-member committee to regulate tourism and providing guidelines for vessels travelling to the island.
The committee comprises representatives from the Cox’s Bazar Sadar and Teknaf UNO offices, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry or Tourism Board, the Inland Water Transport Authority, the Coast Guard, the Tourist Police, and the Department of Environment’s Cox’s Bazar office.
Tourists traveling to Saint Martin’s will now need to register through a mobile application developed by the Bangladesh Tourism Board to obtain a travel pass, ensuring compliance with new regulations. The committee will enforce strict measures to prevent the transportation of banned items such as polythene bags and single-use plastics.
Tourists must also register their accommodation details, which will be recorded for administrative purposes. Awareness billboards will be installed at departure points and entry points on the island, outlining dos and don’ts for visitors. The Department of Environment’s Cox’s Bazar office will oversee coordination and communication for these activities. The committee may expand its membership as required for operational efficiency.
To enhance its functionality, the committee recently included five additional members: the president of the Saint Martin’s Vessel Owners’ Association, the president of the Saint Martin’s Hotel Owners’ Association, the Officer-in-Charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, the president of the Cox’s Bazar Tour Operators Association (TOAC), and the president of the Cox’s Bazar Press Club.
Confirming these developments, Nilufer Yasmin Chowdhury stated, “We have designated the Cox’s Bazar departure jetty in compliance with the Ministry’s directives and expanded the committee by adding five new members for smoother operations.”
With these measures in place, authorities aim to strike a balance between promoting tourism and safeguarding Saint Martin’s Island’s fragile ecosystem.
