There is no official travel ban on the island of St. Martin, but non-residents are not allowed to visit the island. Despite the announcement that tourists can visit but not stay in November, all arrangements for visiting the island are closed. Residents of the island say that their relatives are also unable to visit.
Tourism traders and island locals say travel to St. Martin has never been so tight. This has created an environment for creating rumours. There is also an uncertainty among everyone about starting tourism.
According to official commentary, travel to St. Martin in November is not supposed to be restricted but in fact there is no going there. Local residents are also required to show national identity cards to enter their locality. Even this BBC reporter had to get a written permission from the local administration to go to St. Martin for news gathering on November 4th and give a copy of the national identity card to the Coast Guard.
On the surface, visiting Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf and St. Martin, and talking to the Coast Guard, local administrations and people involved in the tourism business, it seems that there is some sort of undeclared ban on travel to St. Martin even in November. There is also uncertainty as to whether it will be possible to launch tourism in St. Martin in November.
Not a single cruise ship has started plying the St. Martin route yet. Speedboat movement is also stopped. Passenger trawlers or service boats require written permission to travel. No one except residents of St. Martin is allowed to travel. Trawler tickets are being sold on presentation of national identity cards to confirm islanders. The Coast Guard is periodically verifying the NID of the passengers.
Ayesha Siddika Papia expressed her regret at Shahpari Island Jetty Ghat in Teknaf. He was disappointed not to be able to come all the way to St. Martin.
‘Very upset. Many are hopeful like us. We want to open this closure soon. So that they don’t get upset like us.’
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Owners Association of Bangladesh, told the BBC that it is not possible for ships to return from Cox’s Bazar during the day, so it is uncertain whether tourist ships will be able to start sailing to St. Martin in November.
‘We are drowning in despair. The government’s announcement that tourism is open in November is not consistent with reality. It was possible to sail from Teknaf by day. It is not possible to come and go from Cox’s Bazar during the day. From Inani it is possible to go to Saint Martin in four hours. However, it is not possible to say whether the damaged jetty is scheduled to be repaired by November 22 or not.
Another quick way to travel to St. Martin is by speedboat. Speedboats are also now banned due to safety concerns. Speedboats are not allowed to operate without special permission.
The only service in operation to St. Martin is by service boat or trawler from Teknaf. Many adventure-seeking youngsters prefer to travel to St. Martin on trawlers, but tourism facilities do not offer that opportunity. Strict restrictions have been imposed on travel by trawlers. A lineman at the Teknaf Trawler Wharf clarified that trawler tickets are not issued without written permission from St. Martin Island residents or the administration.
If you want to go to St. Martin to collect news, Teknaf Ghat made it clear that you are not allowed. Lineman Omar Farooq said that the strict imposition of traffic is going on.
“The administration has restrictions. Outsiders are now prohibited. Only local people will go. Forbidden any man to go but St. Martin’s.’
When he asked what would happen when he got up, he said, ‘There is a check post to check the ID card’.
He went to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office and spoke with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Adnan Chowdhury to get permission to go to St. Martin.
He said that permission is not being given for tourism purposes now. Now only those who go for urgent needs like NGO workers, research work or news gathering are allowed.
‘The Coast Guard has told us to give this permission. Other years it was not. It has been launched since this year. This permit will no longer be required if tourism resumes and ships ply. The ship no longer requires permission,’ he said.
There is also a Coast Guard check post at Saint Martin. There you have to register your name and enter the island. Coast Guard station commander in St. Martin, Lt. I want to know why the travel is so strict after meeting Commander SM Rashad Haider.
The station commander said that steps are being taken as per the instructions of the government keeping in mind the issue of security. They are monitoring to make sure no one comes to St. Martin to travel. The Coast Guard Station Commander also said that anyone who lands on the island of Saint Martin will be sent back.
‘The movement is being controlled by coordination. There is really no barrier to those who have permission to come here. As the Butte travel is still prohibited, they can also come when the travel starts.’
According to the government decision and the statement of the government’s environment advisor on Monday, November 4, it is possible to visit St. Martin in November, but not to spend the night. When asked why the restrictions, Haider said, “We haven’t received any instructions about starting (tourism) yet.”
Anger across St. Martin
On the island of St. Martin, most shops and hotels built around tourism are closed. Island tours, most of the cottages, hotels, resorts are not ready for tourism. All are closed.
Local tourism traders and outbound investors on the island said the crackdown on travel was unprecedented.
Outsiders who have invested in the island in the tourism sector are in dire straits. It is alleged that there is no opportunity to bring staff to prepare and provide services for tourism. Arifur Rahman Rimon came to the island preparing to start tourism in November. As tourism did not start, he was forced to return to Dhaka on November 5.
Source: dailynayadiganta