Tourist vessels resumed operations on the Cox’s Bazar–St Martin’s route on Monday, reopening the country’s only coral island to visitors after nine months.
From as early as 5am, travellers began gathering at the Nunia Chara BITW jetty, where administrative officials checked travel passes in two separate queues.
The first ships left the jetty at 7am, carrying tourists braving the winter chill to reach the coral island before noon. Return trips to Cox’s Bazar are scheduled for 3pm.
Three vessels — MV Bar Aulia, MV Karnaphuli, and Carey Sindabad — transported around 1,100 tourists on the first day. The administration has capped daily arrivals at 2,000 to protect the island’s fragile ecosystem.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), said preparations for the season’s inaugural journey were completed in advance.
“The voyage began in a clean and safe environment with the cooperation of the administration,” he said, adding that ship owners could recover losses if tourists are allowed to stay overnight for at least four months in the next season.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md MA Mannan, Additional District Magistrate Md Shahidul Alam, Sadar UNO Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury, and Tourist Police Additional DIG Apel Mahmud welcomed travellers at the jetty and oversaw implementation of government directives.
DC Mannan said passenger control measures had been tightened and restrictions on plastic use strictly enforced by the Department of Environment and Tourist Police. Passengers were given aluminium water bottles as part of an awareness drive.
Tourist Police Additional DIG Apel Mahmud said all tickets were being checked.
“We are ensuring no tourist carries plastic bottles. The Tourist Police are working to maintain order from the very first day,” he said.
Department of Environment Deputy Director Khandaker Mahmud Pasha said stricter enforcement of aluminium bottle use would help reduce plastic pollution on the island.
Many visitors expressed excitement about returning to Saint Martin’s after a long gap.
Tourist couple Soma Akhter and Saidul from Rajshahi said the island’s environment must be protected: “Visitors should act responsibly. Saint Martin’s is a national treasure.”
Another tourist, Mashiur Rahman, who has previously visited the island several times, said this trip felt “a bit different” due to new rules and restrictions, which he felt contributed to greater discipline.
Although Saint Martin’s officially reopened to tourists on November 1, vessels had not been operating due to the ban on overnight stays. This season, four ships have been permitted to sail from the Nunia Chara jetty, with the 2,000-visitor daily limit strictly enforced.
Authorities said the 12-point directive to protect the island’s fragile ecosystem will be implemented more rigorously this year. These include bans on – lighting on the beach at night, loud events and barbecues, entering the Keya forest or collecting fruit, activities harmful to turtles, birds, king crabs, corals, or any biodiversity, motorized vehicles, and single-use plastics, as part of the plastic-free island initiative.
The Department of Environment is distributing aluminium water bottles to reduce plastic waste.
