The tourist season to Saint Martin’s Island finally got under way at sea on Thursday, 5 November, when MV Baro Awlia left Cox’s Bazar with about 800 passengers, five days after the island officially reopened.
The ship sailed at 7:30am from the BIWTA jetty at Nuniachhara, according to Mahmudur Rahman Sayem, executive magistrate of the district tourism cell. Delays in approvals and paperwork had kept tourists waiting since the season opened on 1 November.
Plastic and loudspeakers left on shore
Staff from the district administration, the Department of Environment (DoE), BIWTA and the Coast Guard stopped passengers from taking single-use plastic bottles, polythene bags and sound boxes on board, and made announcements on protecting the island’s environment. DoE deputy director Khondokar Mahmud Pasha said such items were left at the jetty.
Three ships cleared this season
- Approved vessels: MV Baro Awlia, MV Karnafuly Express and MV Teknaf, with a combined capacity of 2,298 passengers
- Season: 1 November to 15 March, with a cap of 3,500 visitors a day
- Requirements: a Tk 100 environmental fee, a travel pass and a QR-coded ticket
- Fares: the cheapest ticket is Tk 4,200, up Tk 700 from Tk 3,500
Rules on the island
Entering Keya Forest, visiting Chhera Island, parties, loud noise, night-time beach lighting, barbecues and any activity that harms wildlife or coral are banned.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh, said more than 800 passengers boarded. Most travellers said they were delighted to finally set off, though one passenger complained of harassment despite holding an online ticket.
Based on reporting by bdnews24.com, 5 November 2026. See also: why the ships were delayed.
Photo: Saint Martin’s Island seen from an approaching ship (2018). Minhas Kamal / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
