Dhaka:Tourists will be permitted to visit St Martin's Island, an environmentally critical area, from November 1 to March 15 next year. The number of visitors will be limited to an average of 3,500 per day, and each tourist will be required to pay a Tk 100 environmental conservation fee.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a letter directing the relevant authorities to enforce these decisions. This letter follows an inter-ministerial meeting on October 12, chaired by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, which focused on managing tourist visits to the island.
The decisions include maintaining tourist access to St Martin's from November 1, 2026, to March 15, 2027, with approved passenger vessels operating from the Nuniarchhara jetty in Cox's Bazar. Additionally, a restriction has been set to control tourist numbers at 3,500 daily, with the environmental fee instituted to safeguard the island's biodiversity and natural environment.
The Department of Environment is tasked with implementing measures in accordance with Rule 26 of the Environment Conservation Rules, 2016. Furthermore, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and the Department of Shipping are prohibited from approving any vessels to the island without consent from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Multiple government bodies, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the Ministry of Shipping, the Department of Environment, the Cox's Bazar district administration, the Bangladesh Tourism Board, and local police, have been assigned responsibilities to ensure compliance with the new regulations concerning tourist transport and vessel movement.
The ministry's letter also stated that previous directives issued on October 22, 2025, will remain in effect, maintaining existing environmental conservation restrictions alongside the new tourist access timeframe. Authorities have been instructed to work collaboratively to implement these measures effectively.