The interim government is preparing a master plan for Saint Martin’s Island to protect the country’s only coral island ecosystem. Confirming the matter, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Public Relations Officer Dipankar Bar said the plan will be finalised soon.
Speaking to the state news agency BSS on Friday, he said, “Work is underway to finalise a master plan for Saint Martin’s Island. Projects are underway to tackle waste management and fix alternative sources of income for island residents.”
He added, “Various measures, including imposing restrictions on tourism, have been taken to restore the island’s ecosystem. We aim to reduce environmental damage and make the island healthy and vibrant again.”
However, the official did not disclose the specific elements included in the master plan.
On 12 July, after a meeting at the Department of Environment, Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the government will impose an environmental conservation fee on tourists to help protect Saint Martin’s ecosystem.
Revenue collected from this fee will be used for preserving the island’s environment and ecology.
In addition, the government has started work on improving the skills of locals dependent on tourism and creating alternative employment opportunities for them.
Back in January last year, ahead of the 12th national parliamentary elections, the issue of Saint Martin’s Island became a topic of political debate in Bangladesh.
Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her government repeatedly claimed that the United States wanted to set up a base on the island. The US has consistently denied these allegations.
After being ousted from power, the Awami League even claimed that Sheikh Hasina would not have faced such a situation if she had allowed the US to use Saint Martin’s Island.
In this context, after taking office last October, the interim government began imposing various restrictions on the island – limiting the number of tourists allowed and banning overnight stays. These restrictions sparked reactions on social media, with rumors spreading around them.
However, the government has repeatedly assured that such measures are aimed solely at protecting the coral island’s ecosystem. The upcoming master plan is the latest step in that effort.