Ship operations to resume at Saint Martin’s Island from November 1

After nine months of closure, Bangladesh’s only coral island, Saint Martin’s, is set to welcome tourists once again. Ship operations to the island will resume on November 1, reopening the destination on a limited scale.

Tourist vessels will operate from the BIWTA jetty at Nuniachhara in Cox’s Bazar city to Saint Martin’s Island. The decision was made with the policy approval of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. However, ship operations from Ukhia’s Inani have been prohibited for legal reasons, as Inani has been declared an “Environmentally Critical Area (ECA).”

Md. Jamir Uddin, Director of the Department of Environment’s Cox’s Bazar office, said that ships will operate as before from the Nuniachhara jetty. Despite rumors on social media about reopening the Inani route, the government has confirmed that no such permission was granted.

According to the new guidelines, tourists will be allowed only day trips to the island in November. Limited overnight stays will be permitted in December and January, while visits will again be suspended from February.

A maximum of 2,000 tourists will be allowed to visit the island per day. The use of polythene, motor vehicles, barbecues, and loud noise will be strictly prohibited.

The government stated that these measures aim to protect the island’s environment and biodiversity.

Under the ministry’s directive, tourist visits to Saint Martin’s had been suspended for the past nine months, leaving the island silent — ships remained docked, and hundreds of related workers were left idle.

Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md. Abdul Mannan said that up to 2,000 tourists will be allowed daily to travel from the Nuniachhara BIWTA jetty to Saint Martin’s Island. Six vessels have been granted permission to operate tourist services. A joint committee has been formed to oversee tourist registration and environmental compliance, while the district administration will work with law enforcement agencies to ensure safe and smooth travel.

Khaborwala/TSN