After months of anticipation, passenger vessels have finally resumed operations on the Cox’s Bazar–Saint Martin’s Island route.
On Monday (December 1), around 1,200 tourists departed for the coral island on three ships from the BIWTA Jetty at Nuniachara, Cox’s Bazar at 7:15 AM.
The district administration, the Department of Environment, and the Tourist Police closely monitored entry and screening processes to ensure compliance with the government’s 12-point environmental guidelines.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, said passengers boarded the Karnaphuli Express, MB Bar Awlia, and Keari Sindabad for the maiden voyage of the season.
“Local businesses and residents have suffered dramatically due to the prolonged closure of this route. We hope to recover at least some losses in these two months.
If authorities allowed a longer night-stay window, it would help the economy revive faster,” he added.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan, who visited the jetty to oversee arrangements, announced, “From today, night stays are permitted on Saint Martin’s Island.
Travelers must purchase tickets and travel passes online, and all QR codes are being verified at entry points to ensure the island’s carrying capacity is strictly maintained.”
He also stated that authorities are campaigning against single-use plastics and supplying aluminum water bottles to tourists.
Volunteers and law enforcement have been deployed both in Cox’s Bazar and on the island to enforce the government’s guidelines.
Additional DIG of Tourist Police Apel Mahmud said, “Tourist Police are stationed at the jetty, onboard vessels, and on the island to ensure visitors follow the rules.”
The reopening brought visible excitement among travelers. First-time visitor Rahat Kabir said, “We waited a long time for this. It feels great to be on one of the first sailings.”
Dhaka-based tourist Sujon Dutta added, “Restrictions are necessary to protect Saint Martin’s, but two months feels too short. The timeframe could have been extended.”
Director of the Cox’s Bazar office of the Department of Environment, Md. Zamir Uddin stated that the vessels are under strict surveillance, and no more than 2,000 visitors will be allowed daily.
Separate security checkpoints have been set up at the Nuniachhara and Saint Martin jetties.
Four additional ships are prepared to operate once further permission is granted. Passenger movement will continue on this route until January 31.
On October 22, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change issued a circular imposing 12 guidelines to preserve the island’s fragile ecosystem and biodiversity.
Tourist access had remained suspended since February 1 this year. Under the new government decision, tourism is now allowed for only three months — November to January — with the daily visitor count capped at 2,000.
According to the guidelines, only day trips were allowed in November, while overnight stays are permitted during December and January.
No vessel may travel to the island without official authorization. All tourists must purchase tickets through the Bangladesh Tourism Board’s designated online portal.
Each digital ticket must contain both a travel pass and a QR code for verification purposes.
From February 1 next year, Saint Martin’s will again remain off-limits to tourists for nine consecutive months.
The directives also prohibit nighttime lighting and loud music on beaches, barbecues, entering protected Keya forest areas, collecting or trading Keya fruit, and harming any marine or coastal wildlife, including turtles, birds, corals, crabs, and seashells. Motorcycles, sea-bikes, and all motorized vehicles are banned on the beaches.
Carrying polythene bags is prohibited. Single-use plastics, including chip packets, plastic cutlery, straws, soap and shampoo mini-packs, and 500–1000 ml disposable bottles, are strongly discouraged. Tourists are advised to bring personal water flasks.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
