Environment ministry launches drive to clean St. Martin's Island

The government has launched a cleanup drive to protect the environment and biodiversity of ecologically vulnerable St. Martin's Island, reports UNB.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change started the two-day drive on Wednesday in coordination with the local administration that involves 200 local volunteers.

Over the past two months, the Sustainability Alliance also conducted cleanup activities on the island.

Under the local administration's initiative, a significant amount of waste, including single-use plastics, has been collected and removed in the last two months, according to the ministry.

Besides, 241 kg of plastic and 87 kg of polythene were collected from the ship docks to prevent marine pollution.

Through the plastic exchange stores, 14.3 tonnes of plastic waste were removed from St. Martin's, while 67.3 tonnes were cleared from Cox's Bazar.

In December and January, a daily cap of 2,000 tourists was imposed, with an average of 1,694 visitors arriving on the island each day during this period.

Several ships were warned for carrying excess passengers, and two were fined.