Environment Adviser speaks as chief guest at high-level strategic consultation workshop on Saint Martin's Island Master Plan. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today stressed giving priority to conservation in the proposed "Master Plan of Saint Martin's Island”.  

Saint Martin’s Island has been declared an ecologically critical area and that is why a master plan, including a long-term sustainable management plan, must be finalised by prioritising conservation to protect this unique environment of the island before tourism, she said.

The environment adviser made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a high-level strategic consultation workshop on Saint Martin’s Island Master Plan here.

 In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Environment (DoE) arranged the workshop with the support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Rizwana, also the information and broadcasting adviser, said if a part of the master plan clearly mentions the dos and don’ts to preserve the island and restore its biodiversity, it will be easy to follow those. 

“Tourism must be regulated there for the sake of conservation. The harmful domination of outsiders coming for business purposes over the local population must be prevented,” she said.

The adviser said the role of the local people must be taken into serious consideration in the implementation of the plan. 

“Alternative job opportunities must be created for the locals. Fishing, dry goods business, handicrafts and even tourism can be alternative occupations,” she added.

In her speech as a special guest, Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed said during the interim government's period, the ministry has taken several short-term and long-term initiatives to conserve Saint Martin’s Island. 

“A draft of the master plan has been prepared during this time,” she said.

Three power-point presentations were made at the workshop on ‘Overview of the Draft Saint Martin's Island Master Plan’, ‘Collected Feedback on the Draft Saint Martin’s Island Master Plan’ and ‘Biodiversity of Saint Martin Island’.

Two documentaries on Saint Martin’s Island were screened at the meeting.

Despite its extraordinary ecological importance, the Saint Martin's Island is currently facing serious environmental degradation due to uncontrolled tourism, coral and oyster harvesting, unsustainable fishing practices, and the adverse impacts of climate change and extreme weather. Considering these risks, the DoE declared the island and its surrounding marine areas as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999.

The proposed master plan adopts an integrated approach, combining environmental conservation, climate adaptation, sustainable tourism management, and community-based joint management. Its aim is to protect the long-term ecological balance of Saint Martin's Island and ensure social and economic resilience.

Chaired by the DoE director general Dr Md Kamruzzaman, the workshop was addressed, among others, by additional secretary of the ministry Dr Fahmida Khanam and UNDP Resident Representative (interim) Sonali Dayaratne.