New tourism restrictions to protect coral-rich Saint Martine’s Island

In a bid to protect biodiversity hotspots in the country, Bangladesh plans to restrict tourism and introduce environment-friendly guidelines and directions for tourists visiting the Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs). The coral reef-rich Saint Martin’s Island and one of the largest haors — a type of wetland ecosystem — in the country,

Low-lying areas of coastal districts face flood risk

Several low-lying areas of coastal districts and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by tidal surges, the weather department has warned. These districts are Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jahalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni Chattogram, and Cox's Bazar. Meanwhile, the well-marked low over Chhattisgarh and