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SQUAB, TUAC want to operate tourist ships


Published : 06 Oct 2022 09:45 PM

Sea-Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SQUAB) and Tour Operators Association of Cox's Bazar (TUAC) want tourists to travel to St. Martins on a new route due to the navigability of the Naf River, which has hindered the movement of tourist ships on the Teknaf-St. Martin sea route. They think that as an alternative route, it is possible to build a temporary jetty on the beach adjacent to the Sabrang Tourism Park in Teknaf to allow tourist ships to sail to St. Martin on the St. Martin route.

Such a claim was made at a press conference organized at an elite hotel in Cox's Bazar city on Thursday (October 6) afternoon.

Squab and Tuak sought the Prime Minister's cooperation in this regard and the district administration of Cox's Bazar along with the relevant authorities and law enforcement agencies.

They said, if necessary, they will set up a temporary jetty and switchboard at their own expense. If this is done, it will be possible for tourists to reach St. Martin in less time and less cost.

Sea-Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SQUAB) General Secretary Hossain Islam Bahadur read the written statement at the press conference. 

Sea-Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SQUAB) president Tofail Ahmad answered the questions of journalists. Hossain Ahmad Bahadur said in a written statement, "Despite the crisis of navigation for many years, we have been operating ships. Moreover, some parts of Naf river have been drowning for several years. 

In the past, you have broadcasted the news of tourist ships getting stuck in those submarines. Perhaps for this reason, the government wants to stop shipping on the Teknaf-Saint-Martin waterway for the time being. 

If necessary, St. Martin's ships will be operated directly from Cox's Bazar and Chittagong for tourist crossings and we ship owners and tour operators have accepted the government's decision considering the safety of tourists. Therefore, I have stopped shipping on the Teknaf-Saint-Martin route.

He claimed, seeing the pressure of tourists and the negative impact of the tourism industry, we organized this press conference today to find alternative ways.

It was informed in the press conference that 20-25 lakh tourists visit Cox's Bazar every year. Among them, 70 percent of tourists demand travel to St. Martin. Moreover, with the investment of hundreds of people, high-quality hotels, motels, resorts and numerous restaurants have been built in Teknaf, Ukhia and Saint Martin. It has created employment for thousands of people.

According to them, 10 ships ply the Teknaf-Saint-Martin route during the tourist season from October to March every year. But the decision taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on September 28 has banned the movement of ships on the Teknaf-Saint Martin route, which is very disappointing.

According to the press conference, at least 300,000 tourists travel to St. Martin by ship from Teknaf every year. 10,000 people are dependent on the tourism industry in Saint Martin.

In the press conference, going from Teknaf to Saint Martin, you can see the Teknaf coast on the western side of the Naf River and the border of Myanmar's Rakhine state to the east. Hundreds of Gangchils followed the ship bound for St. Martin from Teknaf. It is doubtful whether this rare experience of tourists visiting St. Martin accompanied by Gangchil exists anywhere else in the world.

According to the organizers, operating ships from Chittagong to St. Martin and Cox's Bazar to St. Martin is very expensive. Moreover, the cost of electricity is also high. But tourists want to travel to Saint Martin on a budget. That's why Schwab and Tuak want to take this alternative shipping initiative.

Apart from Sea-Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SQUAB) President Tofail Ahmad and General Secretary Hossain Ahmad Bahadur, Tour Operators Association of Cox's Bazar (TUAC) President Anwar Kamal Anu and General Secretary Munibur Rahman Titu, Vice President Iftekhar Ahmad Chowdhury were also present in the press conference. , Finance Secretary Nurul Alam Roni, Mountain Affairs Secretary Tauhidul Islam Toha, Joint Secretary Al Amin Bis^as (Tusar), former Joint Secretary MA Kajal, Akhtar Noor etc.

In the press conference, it is hoped that considering the tourism industry and tourists, the government and the local administration will allow the passage of tourist ships on the Teknaf-Saint-Martin waterway.