Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island, will reopen to tourists on November 1, but concerns remain over the safety and readiness of the two jetties used by tourist vessels at the island and Nunia Chhara in Cox’s Bazar.
While the association of tourist vessel owners says the jetty at Saint Martin’s is ready, it has called for another staircase at the Nunia Chhara terminal to facilitate passenger movement. The port authority says minor work remains at the terminal and will be completed within a day or two. It added that no application has yet been submitted seeking permission to operate tourist vessels.
Under a decision made at an inter-ministerial meeting on October 25, tourists will be allowed to visit Saint Martin’s from November 1 to March 15, 2027. A maximum of 3,500 visitors will be permitted daily, each paying a Tk 100 environmental conservation fee.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), told Cox’s Bazar Life that the island’s jetty was fully ready, but the Nunia Chhara terminal needed another staircase for passengers to embark and disembark.
Nayan Shil, acting deputy director of Cox’s Bazar River Port, said the Nunia Chhara terminal was almost ready, with the remaining work expected to be completed within a day or two. He added that no vessel owner or association had applied for permission to operate ships.
Meanwhile, hotels, resorts and restaurants on Saint Martin’s are undergoing repairs, cleaning and renovation ahead of the tourism season. Business owners hope returning visitors will help them recover from financial losses caused by prolonged tourism restrictions and limited opportunities for overnight stays.
Mohammad Tayeb Ullah, owner of Saint Martin’s Mermaid Resort, said the extended halt in tourism caused significant financial losses and made it hard to meet basic needs. He was relieved that vessels were expected to resume operations on November 1.
Alamgir Akash said tourism businesses on the island generally earned income for only two to three months a year, which had to sustain them throughout the year. Adverse weather and other disruptions added to residents’ hardships, but he hoped to recover some losses this season if conditions remained favourable.
More than 200 accommodation facilities operate on the island. Owners are repairing structures, replacing roofs and fencing, and cleaning and redecorating their premises. According to the upazila administration, tourism businesses submitted more than 300 applications this month to hire workers for preparations. The applications are being reviewed.
Despite the preparations, residents and businesspeople remain concerned about the condition of the pontoon where tourist vessels berth. They said rust and holes had developed in several places, raising the risk of accidents as passengers board and disembark.
Shaker Alam, a resident, said the pontoon remained dilapidated despite work on the jetty. He called for repairs before tourist vessels resumed operations.
Abdur Rahman, a representative of the Saint Martin’s Hotel Owners and Business Association, said the return of tourists would revive local businesses and bring relief to residents who depend on tourism.
Foyezul Islam, acting chairman of Saint Martin’s Union Parishad, said repair and renovation work was underway at more than 200 hotels, motels, and restaurants. He stressed that the pontoon needed to be repaired before the season began to ensure visitors’ safety.
Mohammad Saifuddin, assistant engineer of the Cox’s Bazar District Council, said jetty construction was under way at a cost of about Tk 7 crore and was scheduled for completion in December. Although some work remained, he said steps would be taken to complete the platform before vessel operations resumed. He added that allegations of irregularities in the construction would also be examined.
The administration is also preparing to manage tourism while protecting the island’s fragile environment and biodiversity.
SM Anik Chowdhury, Teknaf upazila nirbahi officer, said the administration was reviewing applications from hotel, resort and restaurant owners seeking permission to hire workers. Discussions had also been held with businesspeople on environmental protection, and preparations, including the formation of cleaning teams, were under way.
With the reopening approaching, stakeholders say the authorities must address the pontoon’s condition and the shortage of stairs at Nunia Chhara, while completing the necessary work and formalities for vessel operations. Ensuring safe passenger movement will be crucial as the island prepares to welcome tourists again.
By Tarekur Rahman
Photo: Collected
