Ending months of speculation, maritime tourist vessel operations between Cox's Bazar and St. Martin's Island officially commenced for the season on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The season’s maiden vessel, MV Baro Aulia, set sail at 7:30 AM from the BIWTA Ghat in Nuniyarchhara, Cox's Bazar, carrying over 800 tourists.
Ahead of departure, joint enforcement teams from the District Administration, Department of Environment (DoE), BIWTA, and Bangladesh Coast Guard inspected passenger luggage to strictly implement government environmental guidelines. Single-use plastic bottles, polythene bags, and soundboxes were confiscated or held at the ghat, while Coast Guard personnel conducted awareness announcements. DoE Cox's Bazar Deputy Director Khandakar Mahmud Pasha and Executive Magistrate Mahmudur Rahman Sayem reaffirmed that entering Keya forests, visiting Chera Dwip, setting off beach lighting, or hosting loud nighttime parties remains strictly banned to protect the island's marine ecosystem.
Read nextGold Prices Surge in Bangladesh: 22-Karat Reaches Record ৳2,29,664 per Bhori Following ৳12,072 Cumulative HikeAccording to the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), three vessels—MV Baro Aulia (capacity: 850), MV Karnafuli (capacity: 732), and MV Teknaf (capacity: 716)—have been permitted to operate this season with a combined daily capacity of 2,298 passengers. Under government regulations effective from November 1 to March 15, a maximum of 3,500 tourists per day are permitted on the island with overnight stay privileges, subject to a mandatory ৳100 environmental conservation fee and QR-coded Travel Passes. While tourists expressed joy at the island's reopening, several travelers raised concerns over ticket fares rising to a minimum of ৳4,200.
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Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
