It appears that the government acted this time following a rule by a High Court Bench on March 21 against eleven persons including four Secretaries asking why contempt of court charges should not be brought against them over neglecting an earlier court order for protecting the Saint Martin’s. The Coral Island is a natural treasure that we can’t allow to be destroyed. At least seven ships carry over 5,000 tourists daily there overcrowding the island. Many are regularly disturbing turtle’s habitat in bushes; they buy coral and throw non-biodegradable trash and debris in the sea. They are destroying mangrove plants and causing irreparable damage to the land strip that man can never create again.
DoE official of Cox’s Bazar district made the disclosure of the government order on Saturday saying owners have been already asked to remove their structure on their own. If they fail within the stipulated time, legal action would be taken against them. He reaffirmed the resolve not to allow the destruction of sea borne bio-diversity of St Martin’s by way of businesses related tourism; it must stop. .
It is known to all that powerful people are ruthlessly exploiting the tiny island for commercial purpose. Many have built hotels and restaurants; others are running steamer services to the island under the shelter of the ruling party bigwigs. They have bought land; which is illegal and also built the infrastructure illegally.
What is noticeable is that since 2001 when the “Biodiversity Protection and Eco-Tourism” in the island ended, there is no more government run development plan giving the impression that the island has virtually passed to the control of private individuals. Earlier the government declared it as Ecologically Critical and Tourist Sensitive Zone in 1999, but it was not followed by any guideline for tourists and others leaving the island vulnerable to private exploitation. In our view the High Court action can now protect the island at the end.
