Stranded tourists finally get to return from St Martin’s Island

Dhaka: Tourists at St Martin’s Island finally got to return to the mainland today after being stranded for two days due to bad weather.

Fourteen trawlers bound for Teknaf left the island in the morning on October 19, said Lieutenant Tareq Ahmed of the coast guard.

He said that the tourists were stuck as boat and trawler movement remained suspended over the last two days owing to rough sea.

As many as 400 people, 300 of whom are tourists, left St Martin’s between 7:00 am and 10:00 am, said St Martin Boat Owners Association General Secretary Abul Kalam.

Nine trawlers left for Teknaf in the morning, according to local Union Parishad member Md Habib.

The stranded tourists, however, complained about the lack of cooperation from the hotel and resort owners during the crisis.

“We had to stay two extra days due to the weather. We were staying at a resort but didn’t receive any consideration despite the circumstances,” said software engineer Dil Mohammad, who was on a vacation with friends.

He added that no one from the authorities came to check-up on them and they did not receive any help from the locals either.

Meanwhile, Teknaf upazila administration chief (UNO) Mohammad Parvez Chowdhury said that it was being ensured that tourists did not suffer.

As many as 300 tourists were stranded on St Martin’s Island, one of the most popular vacation spots in the country.

On October 18, the Met Office advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra to hoist the cautionary signal three as a low pressure formed over the northern bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Fishing boats and trawlers were also advised to maintain caution while going into the waters.