Cox's bazar: The tourist season to Saint Martin Island officially commenced today, welcoming 1,174 holidaymakers who sailed from Cox's Bazar to the country's only coral island aboard three passenger vessels.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the vessels departed from the Nuniachhara BIWTA jetty between 7:00am and 8:00am, with an expected arrival on the island between 12:30pm and 1:00pm. On this inaugural day, the vessel Keari Sindabad faced a fine of Taka 50,000 for selling tickets without the required online registration. Authorities have also announced that tourists will be permitted to stay overnight on the island until January 31, while maintaining a daily cap of 2,000 visitors.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, reported that 1,174 tourists embarked on the journey this morning via the three vessels servicing the Saint Martin route. Boarding commenced at 6:00am, and representatives from the district administration, Department of Environment, Tourist Police, BIWTA, and other relevant government offices were present to ensure compliance with the government's 12-point directive for tourism operations on the island.
To counteract the use of single-use plastic, the Department of Environment distributed aluminium water bottles to every tourist at no cost prior to boarding. Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Neelufa Yasmin Chowdhury, who also serves as the convener of the district administration's monitoring committee, emphasized the enforcement of strict surveillance to adhere to the government-imposed daily limit of 2,000 tourists.
Deputy Director of the DoE Cox's Bazar office Khandaker Mahmud Pasha confirmed the distribution of aluminium water bottles as a measure to discourage single-use plastic. Vessels will continue to operate from Cox's Bazar at 7:00am, returning from the island at 3:00pm the following day, with this service available until January 31.
Saint Martin Island was declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999. More recently, on January 4, 2023, the Ministry of Environment designated 1,743 square kilometres of the Bay of Bengal adjacent to the island as a marine protected area.