St Martin’s Island, a small landmass of simply 3 sq. kilometres, is situated within the northeastern Bay of Bengal, roughly 9 kilometres south of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, marking the southernmost level of Bangladesh.
Beforehand, Hasina had additionally accused the US of trying to orchestrate a regime change in Bangladesh throughout a parliamentary session. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Pleasure, advised that the current protests in Bangladesh have been seemingly instigated by a overseas intelligence company, though he avoided explicitly naming the US. He said, “I now firmly consider this was instigated by a small group, most certainly by a overseas intelligence company. I strongly suspect the ISI. There was no cause for the protests to proceed as a result of the quotas weren’t mandated by our authorities and have been restored by a court docket ruling. Our authorities had lifted the quotas in 2018 or so when the primary quota protests occurred.” America authorities has persistently criticized Dhaka’s human rights document and electoral processes.
What’s the importance of St Martin’s Island?
A vessel leaving St Martin’s Island
Masking simply three-square kilometres, the island is house to round 3,700 residents who primarily interact in fishing, rice cultivation, coconut farming, and seaweed harvesting, which is dried and exported to Myanmar.
Lately, the island gained consideration attributable to allegations that the Bangladesh Nationalist Social gathering (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia (who was just lately freed), had deliberate to promote it to america for the development of a navy base in alternate for electoral help. Nonetheless, the US State Division dismissed these claims, affirming its dedication to respecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty and selling democracy by free and honest elections.
Historical past of
Often called ‘Narikel Jinjira’ or Coconut Island in Bengali, attributable to its abundance of coconut bushes, St Martin’s Island can be known as ‘Daruchini Dwip’ or Cinnamon Island. The island was initially a part of the Teknaf peninsula however was separated when a portion of the peninsula submerged, reworking the southernmost half into an island.
The island has a wealthy historical past relationship again to the 18th century when it was first settled by Arabian retailers who named it ‘Jazira’. In 1900, a British land survey included St Martin’s Island as a part of British India, naming it after a Christian priest referred to as Saint Martin. Some stories recommend that the island was named after the then Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong, Mr Martin.
In 1937, when Myanmar was separated from British India, the island remained a part of India. Following the Partition of 1947, it got here beneath Pakistani management and later grew to become a part of Bangladesh after the Liberation Battle of 1971. In 1974, Bangladesh and Myanmar reached an settlement, affirming the island as Bangladeshi territory.
Maritime tussles with Myanmar
Regardless of the 1974 settlement recognising St Martin’s Island as a part of Bangladesh, there have been ongoing points over the delimitation of the maritime boundary. Bangladeshi fishermen, who use the island as a serious fishing hub, have confronted detentions and warning pictures from Myanmar’s naval forces. Though the island’s possession has not been disputed, the maritime boundary’s delimitation has created tensions, given the island’s strategic location close to the Bay of Bengal.
In 2012, the Worldwide Tribunal for the Regulation of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered a landmark judgment affirming Bangladesh’s sovereignty over the island. This ruling had important implications for Bangladesh’s territorial waters and its Unique Financial Zone (EEZ).
Rohingya inflow into Bangladesh
The violent navy crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 pressured over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee into neighbouring Bangladesh, with many looking for refuge within the Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee camp. Given its proximity to St Martin’s Island, there have been stories of the Arakan Military, a gaggle banned by Myanmar, trying to stake a declare on the island, although Bangladesh has persistently denied these claims.
Sporadic incidents of gunfire between Myanmar’s junta and the Arakan Military have occurred in recent times, prompting the Bangladeshi Navy to deploy warships round St Martin’s Island.
Mild home of St. Martin’s Island
US-China Tussle
St Martin’s Island has performed a major function in Bangladesh’s politics because the nation’s independence in 1971. Its strategic location close to the Bay of Bengal and its maritime boundary with Myanmar have attracted worldwide curiosity, notably from the US and China, each looking for to strengthen their presence within the area.
In June final 12 months, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleged that the US had supposed to accumulate St Martin’s Island to construct a navy base in alternate for BNP’s electoral victory. She claimed that the BNP, if dropped at energy, would promote the island to the US, a step she vowed by no means to permit whereas in workplace.
Her allegations have been strongly refuted by US State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller, who said that the claims have been “not correct” and affirmed that “no discussions” about taking on the island had occurred with the Bangladeshi authorities.
With inputs from companies
