The government has formed a committee to control tourism in St. Martin. At the same time, some guidelines have been given regarding shipping from Cox's Bazar to the only coral island in the country. A separate office order signed by Sabrina Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has been issued on November 19 in this regard.
The six-member committee consists of Teknaf and Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism or Tourism Board's Cox's Bazar representative, Inland Shipping Authority's Cox's Bazar representative, Coast Guard's Cox's Bazar representative, Tourist Police-Cox's Bazar representative and Environment Department-Cox's Bazar Deputy Director.
The committee's scope of work is stated in the letter, to ensure that tourists with travel passes collected from apps prepared by the Bangladesh Tourism Board at the point of departure or entry only travel on approved ships, prohibited polythene bags and single-use plastic products or products (environmental, forest and as per Ministry of Climate Change approved list) ensuring non-transportation, recording the hotels where tourists will stay and maintaining registers, at the point of departure of ships and Installation of billboards on dos and don'ts for tourists at entry points in St. Martin, Cox's Bazar district office of Department of Environment will coordinate and coordinate overall and the committee may co-opt members if necessary.
