Firoz Ahmed Khan and Noor Ahmed, two former union council presidents of St. Martin, told Prothom Alo that influential people first buy land and then employ people to burn or cut down the kea forest in the land they bought. Later, permanent infrastructures are built there for hotel-resort, restaurant or others. Although the law prohibits the construction of paved infrastructure in the island, almost all structures are paved. DOE sees it all but turns a blind eye.
Located at the northeastern tip of Bangladesh, St Martin is the only atoll in the country. It is a union of Teknaf Upazila under Cox’s Bazar District. There are 9 villages in the 8 square kilometer island.
The local administration and residents said that the first building on the island was built in 2004. Now the island is littered with 138 buildings. Even in 2018, there were only 48 such structures on the island. Therefore, in the last four years about 90 buildings were built on the island. At least 30 more buildings are now under construction in St. Martin.
Local representatives and fishermen said that many resorts and restaurants have also been built inside the Kea forest. Tom-toms (a type of battery-operated rickshaw) and motorbikes carrying tourists drive along the beach, crashing red crabs, snails and oysters under the wheels. The island was submerged during tidal waves in the last two years. The island was completely submerged in water during Cyclone Sitarang.
