An alliance from Saint Martin has demanded that the government refrain from limiting tourist numbers and banning overnight stays on Saint Martin Island.
The Saint Martin Island Environment and Tourism Protection and Development Alliance's Chairman, Shiblul Azam Qureshi, voiced these concerns at a human chain event held in front of the National Press Club on Thursday.
Qureshi urged the government to revoke all anti-national and anti-tourism decisions made by the previous administration regarding Saint Martin Island. He emphasized: "A proper route for ship travel from Teknaf needs to be established to protect the livelihoods of thousands of people. The island must either be made plastic-free or a plastic waste recycling system must be introduced."
He also proposed banning bottled water and soft drinks brought from outside the island, establishing free training centers for resort and restaurant owners, waiters, tourist police, and others interested in working in tourism. He suggested developing action plans that consider how to increase locals' income and earn foreign currency while preserving the environment.
Furthermore, Qureshi called for allowing ships to operate between October 1 and March 31 and for consulting the island’s residents and all stakeholders before making any decisions about Saint Martin.
He recommended setting up eco-friendly bottled water factories on the island or providing environmentally friendly water bottles through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and establishing a waste treatment plant on the island.
Qureshi remarked: “Every year, at the beginning of the tourist season, there is a lot of back-and-forth about Saint Martin. The recent declaration by the environmental adviser to enforce the previous government’s policy has alarmed us. We are not against environmental protection—we want to protect it while continuing tourism, including overnight stays on the island. Failing to do so would be a disaster for the nation."
At the same event, Abul Kalam Azad, acting president of the Tour Operators Association of Cox's Bazar (TOAC), announced plans to submit an application and memorandum to the environmental and chief advisers, requesting that overnight stays be permitted, possibly with a two-night maximum, while strengthening environmental management and monitoring.
