, Dec. 1 -- Bangladesh reopened St Martin's Island to overnight tourists on Monday after months of restrictions, drawing 1,174 visitors on the first day as authorities tightened monitoring of operators and enforced new environmental rules.

Three vessels - Keari Sindabad, MV Karnaphuli Express and MV Baro Aulia - sailed from Cox's Bazar's Nuniachhara jetty between 7am and 8am, marking the formal resumption of controlled tourism to the country's only coral island, said Tourist Police.

The season will remain open until January 31, with a strict cap of 2,000 visitors per day.

Regulatory oversight was immediate, according to the Tourist Police.

St Martin's reopens, but no ships sail as overnight stays banned

They said the Keari Sindabad w...