Erosion makes Saint Martin's jetty unfit for use

COX'S BAZAR, Nov 08: Dilapidated condition of the Saint Martin Island's jetty resulting from unremitting soil erosion has made movement of tourists and local residents of the island very much risky.

Tourists as well as local residents have to make risky journey by using the jetty which now looks very precarious.

Islanders are especially witnessing a downslide in their income due to the trouble in their professional and business activities caused by the defective state of the jetty.

The jetty is the only means of commute and transportation of goods for about 10,000 people on Saint Martin's island. In addition, several thousand tourists get on and disembark from ships through the jetty daily.

The jetty in shabby state has created adverse impacts on the domestic and foreign tourists.

Tourists and locals have raised a demand for immediate repair of this important facility.

On Sunday morning (December 8), three ships left Nuniarachara BIWTA Ghat in Cox's Bazar and arrived at St. Martin's jetty at noon, largely inconveniencing tourists as they tried to disembark.

Tourist Kabir Uddin Chowdhury,

who came from Dhaka, said, "It (Cox's Bazar) is a beautiful tourist centre; but the main attraction at the entrance is the jetty, which is dilapidated.

If this jetty is not repaired soon, everyone will have to suffer even more."

Another tourist Gias Uddin said, "I was about to meet a major accident while getting off the ship. The entire jetty has been ramshackle due to soil erosion. Major accidents may happen here at any time. Especially women and children are in extreme danger. The jetty must be repaired at the earliest for the sake of unhindered inflow of tourists and locals. The jetty does not suit the beauty of St Martin's in any way."

It is known that when the jetty became completely unusable due to various natural disasters and adverse weather conditions, it was repaired and made suitable for use by installing wooden planks in 2023. But within a year, the jetty got rundown.

St Martin Union Parishad (UP) chairman Mujibur Rahman said, "We are very worried about this dilapidated jetty. Tourists are facing an uncomfortable situation due to its bad condition. We have been repeatedly urging the District Council. I have heard that a budget is being prepared for the jetty's repair, but it is not clear when it will be implemented."

Cox's Bazar Zila Parishad Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Al Maruf said, "Budget allocation for the jetty's repair has been passed. The contractor has already been appointed online. Work on repairing the jetty will begin very soon."

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ehsan Uddin said, "I have just joined. I am a new person; I have not been able to sit in the office yet.

However, I know that the jetty has been in a dilapidated condition for a long time. I will look into the matter."

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