The first tourist trip of the season to the Saint Martin's is going to start today (Saturday). Tourists and locals are very happy to have the opportunity to go to Saint Martin's after a lapse of about 9 months. Local small businessmen are also hopeful.
According to the decision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, tourists will have to go to Saint Martin's Island during the daytime in November and return the same day. There will be no opportunity to stay overnight. Despite that, small businessmen on the island are organising business centers.
However, locals say tourists will have to suffer due to the insufficient jetty. Locals have strongly demanded the opening of a jetty that was previously used.
It is known that tourists will be able to stay on the island for a maximum of two hours. During this time, business and trade will continue for a short time.
Traders are also hopeful about this short-term business. It is known that more than 2,000 tourists will get the opportunity to spend night on this island in December and January.
Tourist boats on this island will have to take permission from the Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) as well as the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change. This time too, the tourist boats will leave for St. Martin's from the Nuniarachara BIWTA Ghat in Cox's Bazar city. However, there have been mixed reactions from various quarters regarding the departure of tourist boats to St. Martin's from this terminal.
Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Imran Hossain Sajeeb said that according to government instructions, tourist boat traffic will start on St. Martin's Island from November 1. However, the point for ship traffic from Cox's Bazar has been determined as BIWTA Ghat.
However, the renovation work on the island's only jetty is not yet complete. Despite taking an initiative to renovate the St. Martin's Jetty, the contractor could not complete the work within the stipulated time.
In this regard, the authorities of the contractor SS Rahman International Limited said that they were trying to complete the renovation of the jetty in a very short time.
However, tourists must follow 12 government instructions. Among the 12 instructions of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, no boat will be allowed to operate on St. Martin's Island without the approval of BIWTA and the ministry. Tourists must buy tickets online through the recognized web portal of the Bangladesh Tourism Board. There, each ticket will have a travel pass and a QR code attached. Tickets without a QR code will be considered fake. Tourist travel to the island will be completely closed in February. On average, no more than two thousand tourists will be able to travel daily. Lighting lights, making noise or having barbecue parties on the beach at night have been banned. Entering the keya forest, collecting or buying and selling keya fruits, harming sea turtles, birds, corals, king crabs, snails and oysters and other biodiversity are strictly prohibited. The movement of any motorized vehicles including motorcycles, sea bikes will be completely prohibited on the beach. Apart from this, banned polythene cannot be carried and single-use plastics such as chips packets, plastic spoons, straws, mini-packs of soap and shampoo, 500 and 1000 milliliter plastic bottles, etc. have been discouraged. Tourists have been advised to carry their own water flasks.
tahjibulanam18@gmail.com
© 2025 - All Rights with The Financial Express
