Tourist ships to Saint Martin's to operate from 28 Nov

Ships carrying tourists to Saint Martin's Island are going to resume operations from 28 November.

However, as per the ministry's decision, the ban on travel and overnight stays for more than 2,000 tourists will remain in effect.

Confirming the matter, Cox's Bazar Additional District Executive Magistrate Nizam Uddin Ahmed said the committee, formed by the ministry to regulate tourism at Saint Martin's Island, will decide the specific location from which tourist ships will depart.

Nizam Uddin stated that only one application has been submitted to the district administration for operating tourist ships to Saint Martin's Island. 

Based on this application, the district administration granted permission to a shipping authority named Keari Sindbad today (25 November).

However, as per the ministry's decision, the ban on overnight stays will remain in effect in November and February. Tourists will only be permitted to stay overnight at the island in December and January.

Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury, UNO of Cox's Bazar Sadar and convenor of the island committee, said, "The first meeting of the committee formed to regulate tourism in Saint Martin's will be held on Tuesday. The committee members will review various aspects, including environmental considerations, to make a decision to determine the ship's departure point."

She added that in informal discussions with committee members, there was unanimous support for designating the BIWTA Jetty ghat at Nunyarchhara in Cox's Bazar as the departure point for tourist ships.

Earlier on 22 October, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change decided to impose restrictions on travel to St Martin's. The ministry subsequently issued a circular on 28 October.

Typically, the island's tourism season begins in late October, but this year, even by the end of November, the usual influx of tourists has yet to kick off due to the restrictions.