St Martin’s never shut, tourist numbers regulated: Rizwana

Visiting Saint Martin’s Island has never been banned, but the number of tourists has been regulated, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Affairs Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said.

She made the remarks on Saturday, September 27 at an event organised at Water House, Panthapath, Dhaka, on the occasion of World Rivers Day. The event was jointly hosted by Prokriti O Jibon Foundation and Bangladesh River Foundation to present the ‘Mark Angelo River Award’.

Rizwana Hasan said, “The locals of Saint Martin’s are not the owners of hotels. Those who lead movements are mostly outside businessmen. Saint Martin’s does not belong to businessmen, it belongs to all.”

The adviser said, “If we can save Saint Martin’s, tourism will thrive. Visiting has never been banned, only numbers have been controlled. This is a global practice. The decision to prohibit overnight stays on Saint Martin’s was made in 2016 but not enforced. This government is now implementing it.”