After strict government directives to protect the environment and prevent coral reef erosion, tourist travel to St. Martin has been completely closed for the next 9 months from February 1, 2026. As a result, after a long busy period, the coral island has now taken on a deserted and peaceful appearance.
St. Martin, the only coral island in Bangladesh, is a haven of unparalleled beauty and a gateway to boundless potential. The blue sky and the blue water of the sea are quietly calling! The blue serenity of the sea is the biggest attraction of St. Martin. But sadly, the beauty of the ‘paradise of the south’ St. Martin is starting to disappear due to various reasons! The island is mainly located in the northeast of the Bay of Bengal.
The ban, which started on February 1, will be in effect until October 1, 2026. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that this long break is to give the island’s fragile ecosystem and biodiversity a chance to recover. During the 2025-26 tourist season (November-January), about 1,17,000 tourists visited the island. However, this time, the opportunity to spend the night was limited due to the restrictions. Positive changes have been observed in the nature of the island since the ban began:
With the complete ban on tourist entry, the proliferation of sea snails and oysters is once again visible in the Cheradia area. With the cessation of barbecue parties and the use of excessive lighting on the beach, the environment for laying eggs of sea turtles is returning. In addition, with the cessation of ship traffic, the level of plastic waste thrown into the sea has come down to zero.
The cessation of tourism has brought about a major change in the lifestyle of local residents. Most of the island’s approximately 10,000 people were dependent on tourism. Currently, hotels, motels and resorts have been closed. Local small business owners are abandoning tourism and returning to fishing or agricultural work. With tourist ships closed for travel, only cargo trawlers are now the only means of communication with the mainland.
Due to the ongoing unrest in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the BGB and Coast Guard continue to maintain strict vigil on the border adjacent to St. Martin. Bangladeshi patrol teams are ensuring round-the-clock security in the waters of the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal. The government and security forces have confirmed that the rumors that have been spread from time to time about the occupation of the island or any major crisis are baseless.
St. Martin Island was declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999. On January 4, 2023, in accordance with the Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change declared an area of 1,743 square kilometers in the Bay of Bengal adjacent to St. Martin as a marine protected area.
Cox’s Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Imran Hossain Sajeeb said that a ban has been imposed on the movement of all types of tourist ships since February 1. If the government takes any new decision in this regard, action will be taken accordingly.
Tourists need to plan now to protect the island’s biodiversity so that they can participate in eco-friendly tourism by following specific rules and using ‘travel passes’ when traveling next season (November 2026).