We strongly condemn and protest the incidents of shooting at the Bangladeshi trawlers operating between Teknaf and St Martin’s Island. We are seriously concerned about the recent conflict inside Myanmar that is affecting Bangladeshi people living across the borders.
Different national dailies and news agencies on Friday ran stories headlined ‘Saint Martin’s residents struggle amid vessel suspension due to Myanmar unrest’ saying over 10,000 residents of Saint Martin’s Island are facing severe food shortages following the suspension of water vessel operations on the Teknaf-Saint Martin’s Island route.
Th suspension vessel service, enforced due to unrest in Myanmar near the Bangladesh border, has severely affected the island’s supply chain. Any conflict inside Myanmar is their internal affairs, but that should not affect the people and properties of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh government should keep an eye on the latest situation and get prepared for any impacts on the country if the situation goes beyond control. The development came as renewed fighting in Myanmar across the Naf river, which separates the two countries, spread panic among the people at Shah Porir Dwip in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf.
10,000
residents of Saint Martin’s
Island are facing severe food
shortages.
Local administration should implement alternative measures, arranging special transport via river routes and permitting goods-laden vessels to ensure that essential supplies reach the island. Since February, the movement of tourist ships and other vessels has been disrupted due to escalating violence in Myanmar, which has spilled over to the border areas of Bangladesh.
Recently, frequent gunfire has been reported along the Teknaf border, causing panic among island residents and further disrupting the supply of goods and movement of people. The suspension of vessel service has led to a acute food crisis on the island. The gunfire are targetting vessels, prompting the authorities concerned to enforce the ban on movement of vessels.
Movement of all kinds of vessels, including those carrying goods, have been suspended for the last one week. On June 5, 25-30 bullets were fired at a trawler carrying election commission officials from Myanmar. This incident heightened fears and triggered the imposition of the ban on vessel movement.
People are afraid to travel on this route due to the risk of falling victim to gunfire. Immediate measures must be taken to transport essential goods to Saint Martin’s Island by using trawlers, with stepped-up security.
Saint Martin's, also known as the pearl of the sea, is one of Bangladesh's most popular tourist destinations. The eight square kilometre island is about 10km from Teknaf. Its permanent residents, numbering around 8000, are all fishermen.
The island is accessible only by water, with residents depending on trawlers that navigate the Teknaf-St Martin’s route to transport food items and other essential supplies.
If this situation is not resolved immediately, it could exacerbate other issues like food scarcity and medical care for the island’s people. The authorities concerned must restore the supply chain to ensure food, essentials, medicines, and other needs immediately.
