The Chief Adviser's Press Wing has clarified that rumors about leasing Bangladesh's only coral island, Saint Martin, to foreign entities, are circulating on social media.
In a post addressing the rumours, the press wing emphasized that the government has no plans to lease Saint Martin to any country. This statement aims to dispel concerns and reinforce the commitment to protecting this vital ecological treasure.
On Saturday, the fact-checking page of the Chief Adviser's Press Wing addressed this rumors.
In the post, the Press Wing stated that a person named Sushanta Das Gupta shared a photo of a contract related to the military on Facebook, claiming: "Deal done, St Martin gone?"
“The fact-checking page of the Chief Adviser's Press Wing clarified that discussions have been ongoing between the Bangladesh Army and the US Army Pacific regarding land forces for several years. The seventh round of talks took place from August 14 to 16, 2023, at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. Any posts linking these talks to St Martin are mere rumors. The interim government has repeatedly stated that there are no plans to lease St. Martin to any foreign country for any purpose,” the post added.
Saint Martin faces 20 types of threats
The country's only coral island, Saint Martin, is facing at least 20 different threats due to uncontrolled tourism, according to another Facebook Post of CA Press Wing Facts.
A study published on April 15 in the journal "Environmental Advance" has revealed that tourism is causing increased temperatures and salinity, deforestation, pollution, rising sea levels, destruction of turtle habitats, plastic use, freshwater shortages, and coastal erosion during high tides on Saint Martin, reads the post.
In the past two months, a new threat has emerged on the island: an infestation of harmful whiteflies, which are destroying the local vegetation.
Over the past few months, around 300 coconut trees have died due to this whitefly outbreak.
Experts are attributing the current situation of Saint Martin to unplanned tourism.
According to international and national research, 41% of the island's coral has been destroyed. If this destruction is not halted, all corals could vanish by 2045, leading to the island's submersion.
In response, the government has made decisions to protect the island, control uncontrolled tourism, and address illegal constructions in the interest of the greater public. The aim is to ensure that Saint Martin, the country's only coral island, remains preserved for future generations.
