Saint Martin Island Tourism place in Bangladesh is a small island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. There is a small adjoining island that is separated at high tide, called Sera island. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of the Naf River. The first settlement started just 250 years ago by some Arabian sailors who named the island ‘Zajira’. During British occupation, the island was named St. Martin Island. The local names of the island are “Narical Gingira”, also spelled “Narkel Zinjira”, which means ‘Coconut Island’ in Bengali, and “Daruchini Dip”. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh Most of the island’s approximately 3,700 inhabitants live primarily from fishing. Besides, the other staple crops are rice and coconut. Being very common on the island, algae are collected, then dried, and finally exported to Myanmar.
How you can reach Saint Martin Island in Bangladesh?
The only way to reach the place is the water transportation i.e. boats and ships from Teaknaf. You do not expect to find any taxis, tarred roads, or electricity here on the island for visit. Except for the larger hotels that run on generators, there is no electricity supply from the national grid on the island since a dangerous hurricane in the year 1999. Between October and April, the fishermen from neighboring areas bring their caught fishes to the island’s temporary wholesale market. The island is all about the sun, sea, and palm trees. During the day, the island comes alive with water and beach sports, with beach parties and bonfires lighting up the evening skies. However, exports of chicken, meat, and other foods do come in from mainland Bangladesh and Myanmar. As the center and the south are mainly farmland and makeshift huts, most of the permanent structures are around the far north of the island. There is now a hospital on the island, but in the past, there has often been no doctor. During the rainy season, because of the dangerous conditions on the Bay of Bengal, the inhabitants have no scope to go to the mainland (Tekna) and their life can become dangerous.
A popular tourist spot Saint-Martin: Bangladeshis are allowed. Saint Martin’s Island Tourism place in Bangladesh has become a popular tourist spot. Currently, five shipping liners run daily trips to the island, including Shahid Sher Niabat, L.C.T Kutubdia, Eagle, Kesari Cruise & Dine, and Kesari-Sindbad. People do not live on this part of the island, so it is advisable for the tourists to go there early and come back by afternoon. In the past five years, Saint Martin Island visitor has increased dramatically. This situation has proven to be lucrative for the islanders, it is causing the natural beauty of the island to deteriorate. Pieces of the coral reef are being removed in order to be sold to tourists. Presently there are many efforts being put forth to preserve the several endangered species of turtles that nest on the island, as well as the corals, some of which are found only on Narikel Jinjera. Nesting turtles are sometimes taken for food, and their hatchlings are often distracted by the twinkling lights along the beach. The surrounding coral reef of the island has an extension named Chera Dwip. A small bush is there, which is the only green part of Chera Dwip, enhancing the beauty of this island.
