The Plight of Saint Martin Island: A Call to Action Against Plastic Pollution Saint Martin Island stands as a unique gem - the only coral island in Bangladesh - located in the southernmost part of the mainland. Nestled in the Bay of Bengal, this pristine paradise has long been a haven for those seeking solace amidst its crystal-clear waters and golden sands. Having roots in Teknaf, my village home, I vividly recall my first visit to Saint Martin back in 2013. At that time, the island was a hidden paradise. People in this land came to Teknaf for daily groceries shopping and Cox's Bazar was dream for them to come in. I still remember a poor man hugged us with joy as he got 5 takas in 2013, but his expression was that he got about 100 Taka!
Fast forward to 2024, peoples of this island are drastically changed. Saint Martin has transformed into a bustling tourist destination, drawing millions of visitors annually. Local businessmen are so commercial we cannot imagine. However, with progress comes a darker side - the detrimental impact of man-made pollution, particularly plastic waste. As we know man made pollution effect environment badly than others. Today, every corner of Saint Martin Island bears the mark of human presence, with plastic pollution looming large. A staggering 3,000 kilograms of single-use plastic waste are discarded daily during peak seasons, posing a grave threat to the delicate marine ecosystems surrounding the island.
Each and every product brought to this island for the sake of tourist hospitality is carried with plastic bags, bottles etc. Mineral water bottles are at the top position in this list. According to a daily newspaper around 3,000/day kilograms of single-use plastic waste are dumped by tourists on Saint Martin's Island during the peak season and literally this is a huge amount. These plastics can badly damage the marine life of Saint Martin Island. To save this coral land plastic pollution must be stopped. The resort owners here are now very aware as a result of the publicity over the past few years. Almost, but not all, some of the resorts have a designated area on one side of the resort where the days’ worth of plastic is deposited. Which was later brought to Teknaf by nonprofit organization like “Keokradong Bangladesh”. If this system can be implemented annually by the government, hopefully this coral island will regain its former life. Furthermore, collaborating with local environmental groups, businesses, and government agencies to develop sustainable waste management solutions and raise awareness about the importance of reducing plastic pollution and also providing information, resources to local people on proper waste disposal practices, to know about the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, ways to reduce plastic waste in daily life can be play a vital role to reduce plastic pollution.
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