St Martin's Island, Bangladesh's only coral island, has recently gained attention due to a dramatic claim made by Sheikh Hasina in an undelivered speech. The former Prime Minister suggested that the United States played a role in her ouster because she refused to hand over the island to them. This revelation, accessed by India Today TV, has sparked significant discussion about the island's geopolitical importance and the US's alleged interest in it.
Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to flee to India amid violent anti-government protests, was reportedly prevented by the military from addressing the nation before her resignation. In the undelivered speech, she claimed that had she agreed to hand over St Martin's Island to the US, her government might have remained in power. This allegation raises questions about why Hasina brought up the sovereignty of this strategic island amidst the turmoil against her leadership.
St Martin's Island is located in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, roughly nine kilometers south of the tip of Bangladesh's southernmost peninsula, Cox's Bazar-Teknaf, near the border with Myanmar. Covering a mere three square kilometers, the island is home to around 3,700 residents who primarily engage in fishing, rice cultivation, coconut farming, and seaweed harvesting, which is exported to Myanmar.
The island's strategic significance has made it a focal point in Bangladesh's politics and international relations. Allegations have surfaced that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had plans to sell the island to the US to establish a military base in exchange for electoral support. These claims were denied by the US State Department, which emphasized its respect for Bangladesh's sovereignty and its commitment to promoting democracy through free and fair elections.
Historically, St Martin's Island, also known as 'Narikel Jinjira' or 'Coconut Island' and 'Daruchini Dwip' or 'Cinnamon Island' in Bengali, has a rich history. The island was first settled by Arabian merchants in the 18th century, who named it 'Jazira.' In 1900, the British included it as part of British India and named it after a Christian priest, Saint Martin, although some reports suggest it was named after the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong, Mr. Martin. Following the partition in 1947, the island became part of Pakistan and later, after the 1971 Liberation War, it was incorporated into Bangladesh.
Despite a 1974 agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar recognizing the island as part of Bangladesh, issues over the delimitation of the maritime boundary have persisted. Bangladeshi fishermen frequently face detentions and warnings from Myanmar's naval forces while fishing near the island, leading to tensions over sovereignty. In 2012, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) affirmed Bangladesh's sovereignty over the island in a landmark ruling, solidifying its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The island's geopolitical significance extends beyond Bangladesh-Myanmar relations. Its proximity to the Bay of Bengal, a strategically important region, has attracted international interest, particularly from the US and China. In June of the previous year, Sheikh Hasina accused the US of wanting to acquire St Martin's Island to establish a military base, allegedly as part of a deal with the BNP to secure electoral victory. She asserted that her government would never allow such a transaction, even if it meant losing power.
These allegations were strongly denied by the US State Department, which reiterated its commitment to its partnership with Bangladesh and denied any discussions about taking over the island. The controversy comes amid reports of US concerns over Bangladesh's growing ties with China, which may have motivated countermeasures to reduce Beijing's influence in South Asia. The situation also mirrors China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea, highlighting the strategic importance of regions like the Bay of Bengal.
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