Saint Martin’s coral island is situated in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal and the southern part of Bangladesh. In 1999, the government declared Saint Martin's Island an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) to protect its biodiversity and ecology. To protect the island's ecosystem, the government has imposed 14 restrictions on travelling to Saint Martin's Island. The Department of Environment (DoE) circulated the restrictions through several newspapers.
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Advisor of the interim government Syeda Rizwana Hasan has recently said, "According to the national statistics, 41 per cent of coral of Saint Martin's is depleted. All recognized international journals said if this trend is continued, all the reefs will be destroyed and Saint Martin's Island will sink by 2045. Where will the tourism be there? I will save both Saint Martin and tourism. We have not banned tourism.”
On October 28, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change imposed some restrictions on travelling to Saint Martin’s Island to limit the number of tourists and restrict overnight stays. The restrictions include Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to take permission from the ministry to ply tourist ships to the island, tourists will not be permitted to stay overnight in November, tourists can stay overnight, but the number of visitors on the island will be capped at 2,000 per day in December and January. Torching lights on the night, sound pollution and BBQ party are also not allowed on the reef island.
Saint Martin’s Island is the breeding place of tortoises. There are 68 species of corals, 151 species of moss, 191 species of molluscs, 40 species of crabs, 234 species of marine fish, five species of dolphins, four species of amphibians, 28 species of reptiles, 120 species of birds, 20 species of mammals, 175 species of plants, two species of bats in the island. Unfortunately, many of these species are now on the verge of extinction. This biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate gradually due to climate change.
Saint Martin’s is situated in the estuary of the Naf River. It is 9 kilometres south of Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf Upazila and 8 kilometres west of Myanmar's coastal area.
In the administrative system, Saint Martin’s Island is a union under Teknaf Upazila. The island consists of 9 villages. Around 10,000 people live there. Recently, many rumours have been spread about Saint Martin. The interim government urged the people to don’t pay heed to the rumours and don’t be misled. The office of the Chief Adviser has already said that the government has no plan to lease Saint Martin’s to a foreign country.
Meanwhile, Saint Martin Poribesh and Parjatan Oikya Unnayan Jote is observing simultaneous programmes demanding cancellation of the government restrictions on limited tourists and staying overnight.
Shiblul Azam Koreshi and MM Sadek Labu, chairman and president of the Saint Martin Poribesh and Parjatan Oikya Unnayan Jote said more than 3 lakh people directly involved in the tourism sector will suffer for the government restrictions on limited tourists and overnight staying in Saint Martin’s Island.
Saint Martin’s hotel businessman Abdur Rahim said hundreds of businessmen will incur economic loss if tourists can’t travel to the island and lack of speedy shipping movement.
He said that every year, from November to March is the tourism season in Saint Martin. Tourism businesspersons are becoming worried ahead of the peak season.
Businessmen Md Karim and Kefayet said the authority should take the initiative to emphasise the livelihood of the 10,000 people and environment of the Saint Martin’s Island.
Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh General Secretary Hossain Islam Bahadur said in general the plying of cruise ships starts at Saint Martin’s from the end of October or the first day of November every year. Three cruise ships are waiting after taking full preparation for the decision of the administration this year.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin said the cruise ships will move after obtaining permission from the ministry. However, work is underway to implement the government's decision to limit the number of tourists on Saint Martin’s Island, he added.
bd-pratidin/GR
