Travel to St. Martin suspended for 9 months

Tourist travel to St. Martin�s Island, Bangladesh�s only coral island located 9 km south of the Cox�s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, will be suspended for nine months starting February 1, following a decision by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.  

The suspension will remain in effect until November 2025.  

Typically, the island�s tourist season runs from October 1 to March 31. However, this year, authorities have restricted access earlier than usual due to new regulations.  

Cox�s Bazar Additional District Magistrate Imran Hossain stated that ships transporting tourists to St. Martin�s would be permitted to operate until January 31. "After that, no tourist ships will be allowed to operate," he confirmed.  

The decision has sparked concerns among local businesses, as tourism is a crucial part of the island�s economy.  

MA Abdur Rahim Jihadi, President of the St. Martin Hotel-Motel-Resort Owners Association, expressed his worries about the impact on residents. "The island has never faced such a crisis before," he said.  

"If tourists stop coming, it will create significant challenges for the local population. Hundreds of people depend on the tourism industry for their livelihoods. We urge the government to reconsider the decision and allow visitors at least until February 28," he added.