Movement of tourist ships banned for six months

COX'S BAZAR, Mar 28: Movement of tourist ships on the Teknaf-St Martin's route will remain suspended for six months until next October.
Sea Cruise Operators-Owners Association of Bangladesh (Squab), an organisation of ship owners, has announced a ban on movement of tourist ships on the Teknaf-St Martin's route from April 02. Squab president Tofail Ahmed confirmed the matter on Monday afternoon.
He said, "Shipping on the Teknaf-St Martin's waterway was allowed until March 30. As some tourists will spend night at St Martin's Island until April 02, we have decided to operate ships until that day to bring them back. In addition, the island's garbage will be brought to Teknaf on each ship while returning from St Martin's Island on April 02. Later, waste will be dumped into different areas in Teknaf. And plastic waste will be sold to people. Tourists will be left stranded on the island for seven consecutive months until next October."
Ten ships ply the Teknaf-St Martin's waterway. Due to the monsoon season and inclement weather, the Bay of Bengal remains rough and the upazila administration has banned the movement of these ships, he added.
Abu Bakkar, president of St Martin's Island Shop-Restaurant Association said, "A total of 20-30 hotels, restaurants and more than a hundred shops had already been closed, knowing that tourist arrivals on the island would be banned. It has already put impact on trade and commerce here. Earlier, 90 per cent of the island's people made a living by fishing in the sea. Over the years, most people have become dependent on tourism."
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Parvez Chowdhury said, "An order was issued to stop shipping from March 30. The time has been extended by two more days due to a stay of some tourists at the island and for bringing the island's garbage to Teknaf by ship."

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