St Martin's residents block road in Cox's Bazar protesting tourism restrictions on the island
The protesters ended their programme after five hours
Hundreds of St Martin's locals travelled to Cox's Bazar today and held hours-long protest programmes against the interim government's recent decisions to limit tourism in the country's only coral island.
They blocked the road near the Dolphin Mor intersection, the entrance to Cox's Bazar, area from 11am in the morning till 4pm.
The protesters were seen lying on the road with white clothes wrapped up on them, symbolising the dead.
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"No previous government has taken such initiatives. The present government is intending to destroy the tourism sector in the name of protecting the environment. The residents of the island are having to protest as the government is not backtracking from its decisions," said Abdul Malek, a St Martin's local and organiser of the protest.
"Every year from the end of October, the island's tourism season begins. But this time, even at the end of November, the flow of tourists has not started. Ship movement is also facing uncertainty," he noted.
Malek said even the people living on the island are also facing problems coming and going to Teknaf by using wooden trawlers or speed boats for their own needs. "Their arrival or departure now depends on administrative permission."
Besides, he also noted that tourists now need written permission to go to the island.
Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury and Addition Superintendent of Cox's Bazar Police Md Jasim Uddin, along with other district officials, visited the spot at around 12pm.
They held long discussions with the protesters. Later, on their assurance, the protesters ended their programme after five hours.
Meanwhile, the long protest programmes caused immense traffic congestion in Cox's Bazar, which sees a huge influx of tourists every day.
Earlier on 22 October, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change decided to impose restrictions on travel to St Martin's.
Later, the ministry issued a circular in this regard on 28 October.
The circular states that from now on the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority will issue permission for sea traffic with St Martin's with the consent of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
It also states that tourists travelling to the island will not be able to spend the night there.
Overnight stays will be allowed in December and January, but no more than 2,000 tourists will be able to visit the island during these two months.
The circular also stated that no lights can be lit on the island at night, no noise pollution can be created, and no barbeque party cannot be done.
