US-Bangladesh Tensions Over St Martin’s Island

A small island named St Martin’s is stirring up a lot of controversy lately. This three-square-kilometer land, located in the Bay of Bengal, is home to about 3,700 residents who mainly depend on activities like fishing, rice farming, coconut growing, and harvesting seaweed for sale to Myanmar.

Recently, the island made headlines due to some serious allegations. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was accused of planning to sell St Martin’s Island to the United States. The alleged deal was supposedly in exchange for support in elections, but the US State Department has strongly denied these claims, emphasizing its respect for Bangladesh’s sovereignty and commitment to democratic elections.

Adding to the mix, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who now lives in India, hinted that the US may have played a role in her departure from power. In her statements, she mentioned not wanting to witness violence and claimed that the US wanted to control the island in exchange for political backing.

Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, also weighed in, suggesting that recent protests in Bangladesh might have been fueled by foreign influence from intelligence agencies, although he did not directly name the US. He expressed concerns that these protests arose despite a court ruling restoring previously lifted quotas.

St Martin’s Island, often called ‘Coconut Island’ due to its many coconut trees, has a long history. It was settled by Arabian merchants in the 18th century. Over the years, its ownership shifted through British India to Pakistani control, and eventually, it became part of Bangladesh in 1971 after the Liberation War.

The island sits near the maritime boundary with Myanmar, leading to ongoing issues over fishing rights. Reports have suggested that Bangladeshi fishermen have faced confrontations with Myanmar’s naval forces while using St Martin’s as a fishing base. Although the island itself is recognized as Bangladeshi territory, the delimitation of the maritime boundary remains a sensitive topic.

With recent unrest in Myanmar creating a refugee crisis, some reports have mentioned groups trying to claim St Martin’s Island, but Bangladesh has quickly denied any such claims. The Bangladeshi Navy is now keeping a close watch on the area.

The strategic position of St Martin’s Island near the Bay of Bengal also attracts attention from global powers like the US and China, both looking to strengthen their presence in the region. Last year, Prime Minister Hasina voiced concerns about the US wanting to establish a military base on the island, a claim the US has categorically rejected, stating there have been no talks regarding this issue.