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Govt to revise St. Martin’s tourism restrictions soon
Published : Thursday, 1 October, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Observer Online Report
The government is set to revise the restrictions imposed on tourist access and overnight stays on St. Martin’s Island, with a finalized policy scheduled for publication by October 15, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced.
State Minister for Environment Sheikh Faridul Islam stated that the upcoming guidelines aim to protect the island's fragile ecosystem while safeguarding the livelihoods of local residents.
The review follows complaints from island residents, local representatives, and tourism operators regarding the 12-point directive issued by the previous interim government in October 2024. Under those regulations, tourism was limited, with overnight stays permitted only during December and January and capped at 2,000 visitors per day via an online pass system managed by the Teknaf Upazila administration.
Local business leaders and St. Martin’s Union Acting Chairman Faizul Islam noted that the restrictive timeframe severely impacted the local economy and inadvertently led to adverse activities, such as tree felling and unregulated fishing, due to lost earnings. Tourism stakeholders have requested the government to restore the traditional six-month travel season from October to March.
However, environmentalists have urged caution. Environmental advocate Md. Shamsuddoha stated that strict controls are essential to preserve the island's biodiversity, advocating that the tourism window should not exceed three months.
State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam affirmed that consultations and public hearings with island residents, business owners, and environmental experts will take place before finalizing the policy by October 15.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
