Mohammad Aman Ullah:
According to the decision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the last date for tourist travel to St. Martin’s Island is January 31. There is a ban on tourist travel to the island from February. Although the island’s residents and tourism-related businessmen have demanded that it be extended until February, there has been no change in the decision so far. St. Martin is the southernmost island of the country. After a 6-hour ship journey from Cox’s Bazar, travelers reached the island. Everyone was fascinated by the clear blue waters of the sea and the unique beauty of the island.
Tourism businessmen said that tourists travel to St. Martin’s Island every year from October 1 to March 31. But this year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued various restrictions, including limiting tourists. Whereas in November, tourists will be able to go to St. Martin but will not be able to stay overnight. Two thousand tourists will be able to visit and stay overnight in December and January, and tourists will not be able to visit Saint Martin in February. However, tourists could not visit Saint Martin in November due to not getting permission to sail on time. And although sailing was allowed since December 1 last year, tourists are traveling to Saint Martin through travel passes.
According to the decision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the current tourist season in Saint Martin will end on January 31. Due to which the residents of the island are worried. Abdul Malek, a local resident of the island, said that it is not possible for the residents of Saint Martin to survive for the remaining 10 months with two months’ income. That is why we are demanding that the island be kept open until February. MA Rahim Jihadi, president of the Hotel Motel Resort Owners Association, said that no such crisis has arisen on the island in the past. If tourists stop coming to the island now, the residents will face various crises. Thousands of people are involved in the tourism business on the island.
Therefore, tourism-related businessmen are demanding that St. Martin’s Island be opened for tourists until February 28 on humanitarian grounds. Hossain Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, said, “We request that St. Martin be kept open for tourists at least for the month of February. This will largely compensate for the loss of the people and businessmen of the island.”
However, the Cox’s Bazar district administration said that it is not possible to extend the travel time without the ministry’s instructions. Cox’s Bazar Additional District Magistrate Imran Hossain Sajeeb said that ships going to St. Martin will be able to operate until January 31. After that, tourist ships will not be allowed to operate. If the government gives any instructions for extension, measures will be taken according to those instructions.
It is worth noting that more than 10,000 people live on the 17 square kilometer island.
Views: 5
