The preservation of Saint Martin’s Island—Bangladesh’s only coral sanctuary—rests not on the complexity of its master plans, but on the strength of the nation’s political resolve. This was the definitive stance taken by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, during a high-level workshop at Dhaka’s Hotel InterContinental on Tuesday, 6 January.
She warned that without a firm commitment from the highest levels of government, even the most sophisticated environmental strategies would remain “paper-only” solutions while the island’s ecology continues to collapse.
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Restoring a Fragile Sanctuary
Adviser Rizwana Hasan made a clear distinction between commercial tourism and environmental stewardship. “Tourism and Saint Martin’s are not synonymous,” she asserted, clarifying that the government’s primary mandate is to restore the island to its original, pristine state.
Designated as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), the island is currently under siege from human over-saturation. The Adviser pointed out that in many nations, overnight stays on such sensitive coral islands are strictly forbidden to prevent irreversible damage. She identified “outsider-controlled commercial interests” as the main culprits behind the island’s degradation, calling for a shift toward community-led initiatives.
A Five-Tiered Strategic Framework
The government is moving forward with five phased master plans. However, the Adviser established a rigid hierarchy of priorities: Conservation is the first priority, followed by Economic Sustainability, with Tourism being the final and least significant consideration.
Saint Martin’s Restoration Strategy:
| Priority Level | Strategic Pillar | Implementation Action |
| Primary | Total Conservation | Removing invasive structures and restoring biodiversity. |
| Secondary | Economic Transition | Developing sustainable agriculture and fishing for locals. |
| Tertiary | Regulated Tourism | Enforcing strict bans on loud music and barbecues. |
| Structural | Alternative Lodging | Replacing mega-resorts with local homestay programmes. |
| Ongoing | State Monitoring | Addressing coastal erosion and job security. |
Ending “Loudspeaker Tourism”
In a direct address to the public, the Adviser stated that Saint Martin’s is “not a place for barbecues or loudspeakers.” The island’s ecosystem is highly sensitive to the noise and waste generated by mass recreational activities.
To curb the expansion of destructive hotel infrastructure, the government is proposing a transition to sustainable homestays. This model allows tourists to stay within the homes of the islanders, ensuring that the local community reaps the economic rewards while preventing the further construction of massive, environmentally damaging resorts.
The Need for Inter-Ministerial Synergy
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the Ministry of Environment cannot act in isolation. The success of the island’s survival requires active participation from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries to provide residents with viable, non-destructive career paths.
“The erosion of the island, the conservation of its reefs, and the employment of its people are all under government monitoring,” she concluded. “However, the ultimate success of these five master plans depends solely on the political will to enforce them against powerful commercial interests.”