No ship clearance yet as St Martin’s prepares for tourists

St Martin’s Island, the country’s only coral island, is set to reopen to tourists on 1 November, but uncertainty over approval for tourist ships has cast a shadow over the start of the season.
No tourist ships have yet received final clearance to operate, raising concerns among ship owners and tourism-related businesses about potential financial losses.
Under the government’s decision, tourist ships will not be allowed to operate from Teknaf this season to protect the island’s fragile environment. Visitors will instead have to travel from Nuniachhara Ghat in Cox’s Bazar town. However, ship services are unlikely to begin on 1 November as the approval process remains incomplete.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Anik Chowdhury said no tourist ships would be allowed to operate from Teknaf under the government’s instructions.
“Ship services will not begin on 1 November. A decision will be taken on November 4,” he said.
Hossainul Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Owners Association of Bangladesh, said around 10 ships were ready to operate, but they had yet to receive clearance certificates from the Department of Environment and final government approval. “Failure to launch the ships on time will cause huge financial losses,” he said.
Faizul Islam, acting chairman of St Martin’s Union Parishad, said the livelihoods of around 10,500 island residents depended on tourism. More than 200 hotels, motels and restaurants were preparing for the season, but uncertainty over ship services had left businesses worried.
He also said construction of a jetty costing around Tk7 crore remained incomplete, calling for the immediate repair of its pontoon and platform to ensure the safe movement of tourists.
Cox’s Bazar Additional District Magistrate Tasni Jahan said authorities were verifying the documents of ships seeking permission to operate. “Efforts are underway to complete the approval process while ensuring tourist safety and environmental protection,” she said.