Cox's bazar: Tourists' ship operations to Saint Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal are set to resume tomorrow, with visitors permitted to stay overnight for the next two months. However, the island will have a daily cap of 2,000 tourists.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ships will depart from Nuniarachara Jetty in Cox's Bazar town at 7 am and return from Saint Martin's Island at 3 pm the following day. This schedule will be maintained throughout December and January. A preparatory meeting was convened at the Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner's Office to discuss the tourist movement to the island, with Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan presiding over the session attended by various government representatives.
Cox's Bazar Additional District Magistrate Shahidul Alam announced that four ships have received the district administration's permission to operate on the waterway from Cox's Bazar to Saint Martin's Island. Of these, three ships-MV Karnaphuli Express, MV Baro Awlia, and Keari Sindbad-will commence operations from December 1. The administration has taken measures to ensure a seamless travel experience for tourists.
DoE Deputy Director at Cox's Bazar District Office, Khandaker Mahmud Pasha, stated that the Department of Environment will distribute free aluminum water bottles at the BIWTA Jetty in Nuniarachara to discourage the use of single-use plastics. Furthermore, the ships will be under strict surveillance, with separate search arrangements at both the BIWTA and island jetties.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, confirmed that the three ships will begin their journeys at 7 am. While tickets are being sold until the morning, the total number of passengers cannot be confirmed, though it will not exceed 2,000 as per government directives.
To visit Saint Martin's Island, tourists must adhere to several guidelines. Ships require approval from BIWTA and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Tickets, which must be purchased online through the Bangladesh Tourism Board's portal, will include a travel pass and QR code. The number of trips and tourists will be strictly regulated, and travel will cease in February. Activities such as lighting on the beach at night, making noise, or hosting barbecues are prohibited.
Environmental conservation is a priority, with restrictions on entering keya forests, collecting or selling keya fruits, and damaging biodiversity. Motorised vehicles and single-use plastics are also banned on the beach. Tourists are encouraged to bring their own water flasks.
Bangladesh Tourism Board Deputy Director Mohibul Islam emphasized the need for tourists to procure tickets online via the board's recognized portal, as part of the 12 mandatory instructions for traveling to the island.