The government is taking various initiatives to ensure that the livelihood of the local people is not harmed by limiting tourism on St. Martin Island. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said that alternative employment arrangements will be made by ensuring the protection and restoration of the island’s biodiversity.
She said these things in her speech as the chairman at a meeting held in the meeting room of the Ministry of Environment at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday (April 13, 2025).
A working team has been formed with the Director General of the Department of Environment as the convener in the meeting to determine alternative employment for the people of the island. The committee will include representatives from the Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism Board, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Forest Department, District Administration, BRAC and Coast Foundation. This committee will recommend necessary measures to the government in this regard as soon as possible.
The meeting said that cooperation in fishing, environment-friendly nets and modern devices may be provided. Branding will be done in the marketing of dried fish. Training in seaweed, mushrooms, vegetable cultivation, poultry and cattle farming, content creation, blogging, photography was discussed. Training in sewing, embroidery, souvenir making, and rope making with coconut husks will be provided for women.
Initiatives will be taken to support students’ education, teach others about tree plantation, waste management, and work in restaurants. Local youth will be trained on environmental issues and developed as tour guides. Vegetable production will also be encouraged according to the type of land. Measures will be taken to encourage and market dried fish production in St. Martin. It is expected that these initiatives will help increase the income of the locals.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Director General of the Department of Environment Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, representatives of the Police Administration, Coast Guard, Upazila Executive Officer of Teknaf, Chairman of St. Martin Union Parishad, and other relevant government and non-government organizations spoke.
