Torn apart by tourists
Defying the government's directives, a large number of tourists regularly visit Chera Dwip, the southernmost island of Bangladesh.
Such rampant visits of tourists pose immense risk of environmental degradation in the island, an extension of St Martin's Island under Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila.
Locals and environmentalists said while visiting the island, tourists indiscriminately dump waste on its shores and adjacent waters, leading to great environmental pollution.
Normally, tourists visit St Martin's Island by taking ships from Teknaf. After they reach St Martin's Island, a group of unscrupulous boaters offers the tourists trips to the beautiful Chera Dwip.
Locals alleged that this illegal practice is going on right under the nose of the authorities, due to a lack of surveillance from their part.
This is made all the more unfortunate as recently the prime minister has issued a 13-point directive to protect St Martin's Island.
Following the directive, local upazila administration took up various measures to remove waste and illegal structures from the island.
The directive also imposed an embargo on tourists' visit to Chera Dwip. But it remains grossly unimplemented.
As a result the island's biodiversity and eco-system is slowly reaching the verge of ruin. Locals and environmentalists said if this continues, the island will be in great danger soon enough.
However, St Martin's Island union parishad chairman Mujibur Rahman recently told the media he was yet to get any directives over imposing the ban on visiting Chera Dwip.
"I will start a campaign to stop visits to Chera Dwip after getting necessary documents regarding the ban," he said.
Contacted, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Parvez Chowdhury said, "I have held meetings with boat owners. They assured me to not carry tourists to Chera Dwip. If any boater violates the rule, we will take action against them."
Asked, Azaharul Islam, assistant director of Department of Environment, who is in-charge of St Martin's Island, said, "Visits will stop, if the boaters agree to stop carrying them."
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