The tourists who were stranded on Saint Martin Island during the period of Cyclone Bulbul were rescued and returned to Cox's Bazaar in three ships on Monday noon.
It is learnt, on Monday morning three ships from Cox's Bazaar went from Teknaf jetty towards Saint Martin and returned from there with the tourists at Teknaf in the afternoon.
Saiful Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Teknaf, said that all the tourists stranded on the Saint Martin's Island were safe, as cyclone, Bulbul did not have much impact there. Movement of the tourist ships on Saint Martin-Teknaf route was kept suspended from Thursday afternoon following a rough weather caused by Cyclone Bulbul. As a result, nearly 1,200 tourists remained stranded at Saint Martin from early Friday. Following the weather condition turns normal, three ships from Teknaf went to Saint Martin and returned with the tourists at Teknaf again at around 4:00 pm on Monday. Later, the tourists reached Cox's Bazaar through buses safely, he added. The local administration had been directed to take steps to ensure that the trapped tourists do not face any difficulties and misery.
Meanwhile, St Martin Union Parishad and others checked on the tourists regularly during the time they were trapped and they were also given discounts on lodging and food.