Environment officers of different government agencies at a seminar held at the Cox's Bazaar district Circuit House warned that after years of unchecked pollution and excessive tourism, St. Martin's, the country's sole coral island on the Bay of Bengal renowned for its beauty and tranquility, has lost all its splendour. One of the participants in the seminar said that St. Martin's has become like Dhaka's Farmgate and Gulistan as no birds are visible in the island now, except crows, which indicates excessive presence of waste. If the current rate of exploitation due to tourism and unfettered construction continues, surely it will "not take long" for the island to sink, he observed.

St. Martin’s is one of the places in the country that attract a huge number of local and foreign tourists every year. These are the places through which tourism sector can thrive and flourish. But the vast prospects of these places are yet to be explored. We have the longest sea beach in the world. The vast and vibrant Inani sea beach and Moheshkhali sea beach also attract scores of local and foreign tourists every year. St. Martin’s soothes the eyes of the onlookers. Thousands of tourists throng here to enjoy the beauty of nature. But it is disturbing to note that this place is losing its charm.    

Natural tourism can contribute immensely to the national economy if necessary steps are taken in this regard. Sunderbans, the biggest mangrove forest in the world, is an ideal place for eco tourism. Hundreds of people, including many foreigners, enjoy the beauty of this vast forest. But it is unfortunate that the resources of this forest are depleting fast due to lack of care and attention. There are places of historical importance, ancient temples and monasteries that can be the subject of cultural tourism. Many historical sites and structures are on the verge of ruination due to lack of repair and renovation.

There are entrepreneurs who can establish hotels, restaurants and rest houses in remote areas to promote tourism. This will contribute GDP growth on the one hand, and create employment opportunity on the other. It is imperative to take effective measures to restore the beauty of St. Martin’s. If St. Martin’s loses its attraction to tourists due to absence of protective measures, it will be a great economic loss for the country. It is imperative to restoring tourist-friendly environment of the island.