The southernmost coral island of Bangladesh, Saint Martin's, has been the subject of various misinformation for a long time. Recently, some incomplete information about the island has been circulated. These claims include: a complete ban on fishing in Saint Martin or its surrounding sea, a total shutdown of tourist arrivals on the island, a three-month cessation of hospital operations, and the complete suspension of electricity supply. However, these pieces of information are not entirely accurate.

Details:
The following findings have emerged from the investigation into the mentioned issues:
1. A ban on fishing, including hilsa and all other types of fish, was imposed in rivers and the sea from October 13 to November 3 to protect mother hilsa fish. However, the 22-day ban has now expired, and fishermen have returned to the rivers and the sea to resume fishing activities.

2. The government has decided to impose restrictions on tourist visits and stays on Saint Martin's Coral Island for a four-month period. Beginning November 1, 2024, tourists will be allowed to visit the island but will not be permitted to stay overnight. In December and January, tourists will have the opportunity to visit the island and stay overnight. However, the number of visitors will be capped at 2,000 per day during this period. In February, no tourists will be allowed to visit the island. Previously, access to Saint Martin's Island was permitted from November to mid-April. This decision marks a significant shift in the island's tourism policies.
The government declared St. Martin's Island an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999 to protect its biodiversity, according to reports from national media. Spanning approximately eight square kilometers, the island is home to around 9,000 permanent residents. However, the daily influx of tourists, often doubling the island's population, has pushed its ecosystem to a critical state. Environmentalists warn that without immediate measures to control tourism, restoring ecological balance will become nearly impossible. There are fears that the destruction of the island's biodiversity could lead to its eventual submersion into the sea. Human activity and excessive pollution on the beaches and in surrounding waters have already caused the disappearance of many plant and animal species. Marine turtles are particularly at risk due to severe habitat disruption. In an effort to protect the island’s fragile environment, the government has decided to limit tourist numbers, emphasizing the urgency of preserving the country's only coral island.

3. St. Martin's Island, home to a 20-bed hospital and the St. Martin Union Sub-Health Center, serves as the primary healthcare hub for the island's residents. These facilities are critical in providing basic medical services to the local population. However, reports reveal a persistent shortage of doctors and healthcare workers at these centers, severely limiting the availability of adequate medical care for the islanders. To address this challenge, a Health and Gender Support Project was initiated in March 2020. Under this initiative, 16 NGO officials, including three doctors, were appointed to maintain the hospital's operations. Despite this temporary arrangement, the project’s tenure concluded in June, leaving the island without the NGO-provided healthcare staff. Historical accounts from various media sources indicate that government-appointed doctors often leave the island shortly after their posting, exacerbating the healthcare crisis. As a result, the residents of St. Martin's Island frequently face disruptions in access to essential medical services. Currently, there are no doctors or nurses stationed on the island, further compounding the challenges for its inhabitants.
It is true that residents of Saint Martin Island experienced a power outage starting from the evening of November 1, 2024. The disruption occurred due to issues with the token recharge software server used in solar projects managed by Scube Technology Limited in Bangladesh. These solar projects are operated under the supervision of Blue Marine Energy Limited, the island's electricity provider. Fortunately, the issue was resolved within a day, and power was restored to the island residents. Blue Marine Energy Limited confirmed that the technical problem had been addressed successfully.

Therefore, the claims that fishing in Saint Martin or the sea has been halted, tourism to the island has been completely suspended, hospital operations have been stopped for three months, and electricity supply has been entirely shut down, do not align with the actual situation. According to available data, everything has proceeded in an orderly manner. Except for healthcare services, all activities remain normal. The information indicates that such claims are purely speculative.

FactWatch has identified the aforementioned claim as "partially false."