After much anticipation, passenger ship service on the Cox’s Bazar-Saint Martin route has resumed. On Sunday (December 1) at 10:00 AM, MV Bar Aulia departed from the BIWTA jetty at Nuniyarchhara, Cox’s Bazar, carrying 700 passengers bound for Saint Martin’s Island.
The district commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, Mohammad Salahuddin, was present at the launch. He said that the travel season to Saint Martin usually starts in November.
“However, the service is beginning today due to various government decisions. Tourists must follow strict guidelines to protect the environment, including avoiding polythene and plastic. The Bangladesh Tourism Board has developed an app that allows tourists to obtain a travel pass,” he added.
While ferry services were initially scheduled to begin on Thursday, operations were delayed due to a lack of passengers, causing the Keari Sindbad vessel to cancel its trip.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment has deployed ten teams to Saint Martin’s Island starting Saturday to reduce polythene and single-use plastics. These teams will monitor ferries, conduct scanning, and perform other duties until December 31.
The Sea Cruise Operators’ Owners Association of Bangladesh’s General Secretary, Hossain Islam Bahadur, declared that no tourist could board using polythene or single-use plastics. Today, the MV Bar Aulia carried approximately 700 passengers on its inaugural trip for this season to Saint Martin’s.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report/Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
