MV Green Line ship broke down halfway while returning from the coral island of St Martin's, leaving 71 passengers, including the crew, stranded on Thursday.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard have begun rescue operations.
The incident occurred around 7pm, as the ship was en route from St Martin's Island to Cox's Bazar. It broke down near Baharchara Kacchapia in Teknaf, in the Bay of Bengal.
Following the malfunction, the ship anchored near the shore.
Confirming the incident, Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Teknaf, said: "The BGB and Coast Guard are working to rescue the 71 stranded passengers and crew. The administration has sent buses to bring them back to Cox's Bazar."
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners' Association of Bangladesh, said: "The MV Green Line ship broke down midway while returning from St Martin's.”
“For the safety of the passengers, the ship anchored at the shore. The ship's authorities have taken appropriate measures to minimize inconvenience to the passengers," he added.