Several hundred residents of Saint Martins Island staged a protest in Cox鈥檚 Bazar on Tuesday, demanding easing of tourism restrictions and permission for overnight stays on the coral island.
The protesters blocked the Kalatali Dolphin Intersection halting traffic and causing sufferings to commuters, particularly tourists.
The protest began with a rally from the deputy commissioner鈥檚 office to Dolphin Intersection at around 11:30am. Protesters have withdrawn the blockade after five hours upon assurance from the authorities concerned.
Abdul Malek, a resident of the island, said that the people of the island relied on tourism for their livelihood.
鈥楾he restrictions are pushing us towards famine. Tourists have never harmed the island鈥檚 environment,鈥� he said.
Shiblu Azam Qureshi, chairman of the Saint Martins Island Environment and Tourism Protection Alliance, said that thousands of islanders had become jobless due to these restrictions.
The collapse of the tourism-dependent economy is devastating livelihoods, Shiblu added.
The demonstrators urged the government to relax the restrictions to protect the island鈥檚 economy and ensure the well-being of its residents.
Earlier in October, the government announced that tourist access to Saint Martins Island would be suspended in February to protect the island鈥檚 fragile ecology and ensure environmental preservation.
Tourists will be allowed to visit the island from November to January, with overnight stays prohibited in November, the government said.
In December and January, tourists can stay overnight, but the daily limit will be capped at 2,000 visitors, the government also said.
