After a four-day suspension, water transport has resumed on the Teknaf-St Martin’s route in Cox’s Bazar’s border upazila. On Monday, at around 11:30am, two engine-powered service trolleys left Teknaf for St Martin, carrying essential food supplies and 77 passengers. Due to adverse weather conditions, water transport on this route had been halted since last Thursday.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin confirmed the resumption of boat services.
Rashid Ahmed, president of the Teknaf-St Martin Service Trolley Owners’ Association, said that rough seas caused by a low-pressure system and the new moon had prevented any vessels from operating between Thursday and Sunday. However, two boats departed from Kayukkhali Ghat in Teknaf Municipality for St Martin Island on Monday.
Mohammad Omar Faruk, a ticket seller at Kayukkhali Ghat, said that with improved weather conditions, two vessels – SB Rafia and SB Ashik – had set sail for St Martin’s Island. The boats carried 77 stranded passengers and essential food supplies.
He added that all the passengers were residents of St Martin who had been stuck in Teknaf due to the bad weather.
Fayezul Islam, acting chairman of St Martin Union Parishad, told reporters that the island had faced food shortages due to the four-day suspension of boat services. He expressed hope that the crisis would now ease with the resumption of transport.
The local representative pointed out that adverse weather frequently disrupts life for St Martin residents. He demanded the urgent introduction of sea trucks and sea ambulances on this route.