Saint Martin’s Island is a small coral island in the Bay of Bengal, off the southern tip of Bangladesh, and for years it was one of the country’s busiest beach getaways. Just a few years ago, ships carried 5,000 to 6,000 visitors there every day, and hundreds of street dogs lived on whatever those tourists, hotels, and restaurants left behind.
That changed in late 2024, when the government restricted tourism to protect the island’s environment. Visitors are now allowed only from November to January, capped at 2,000 people a day, and before the latest season, the island had been closed to tourists for nine months. With the crowds gone, the dogs lost almost their only source of food.
Saiful Islam Bishos refused to look away. Working without a salary and with very little outside support, Saiful documented the crisis, asked for help, and eventually began organizing regular meals.
