Dhaka, Oct. 28 -- In response to the government's decision to halt tourist stays on St. Martin's Island, various stakeholders, including bus, hotel, and boat owners, are preparing for a strong protest.

They have called for sustainable tourism development on the island to protect its biodiversity, according to a press release from the St. Martin's Island Environment and Tourism Protection Committee issued on Sunday.

The committee emphasized the need to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the island's 10,000 residents, who depend solely on tourism. The interim government recently announced that no tourists would be allowed to stay overnight in St. Martin during November. In December and January, only 2,000 tourists will be permitted to...