Sheikh Hasina accuses the USA: What’s the importance of St Martin’s Island? | International Information – Occasions of India

Former Bangladeshi High Minister Sheikh Hasina, lately living in India, hinted at US fingers in her ouster. In a message quoted via the Financial Occasions, she mentioned, “I resigned in order that I didn’t must witness the bloodshed. They sought after to clutch energy over the lifeless our bodies of scholars, however I didn’t permit it. I stepped down from the premiership. I will have stayed in energy if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed The us to dominate the Bay of Bengal.I beg the folks of my nation, ‘Please don’t be manipulated via radicals.'”
St Martin’s Island, a small landmass of simply 3 sq. kilometres, is positioned within the northeastern Bay of Bengal, roughly 9 kilometres south of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, marking the southernmost level of Bangladesh.
Prior to now, Hasina had additionally accused the USA of making an attempt to orchestrate a regime exchange in Bangladesh throughout a parliamentary consultation. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Pleasure, urged that the new protests in Bangladesh have been most likely instigated via a overseas intelligence company, even supposing he avoided explicitly naming the USA. He mentioned, “I now firmly consider this was once instigated via a small staff, in all probability via a overseas intelligence company. I strongly suspect the ISI. There was once no explanation why for the protests to proceed for the reason that quotas weren’t mandated via our executive and have been restored via a court docket ruling. Our executive had lifted the quotas in 2018 or so when the primary quota protests came about.” The US executive has constantly criticized Dhaka’s human rights file and electoral processes.What’s the importance of St Martin’s Island?
A vessel leaving St Martin’s Island
Protecting simply three-square kilometres, the island is house to round 3,700 citizens who basically interact in fishing, rice cultivation, coconut farming, and seaweed harvesting, which is dried and exported to Myanmar.
Not too long ago, the island won consideration because of allegations that the Bangladesh Nationalist Birthday party (BNP), led via former High Minister Khaleda Zia (who was once lately freed), had deliberate to promote it to the US for the development of an army base in change for electoral make stronger. On the other hand, the USA State Division brushed aside those claims, asserting its dedication to respecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty and selling democracy thru unfastened and truthful elections.Historical past of St Martin’s Island
Referred to as ‘Narikel Jinjira’ or Coconut Island in Bengali, because of its abundance of coconut timber, St Martin’s Island could also be known as ‘Daruchini Dwip’ or Cinnamon Island. The island was once in the beginning a part of the Teknaf peninsula however was once separated when a portion of the peninsula submerged, remodeling the southernmost phase into an island.
The island has a wealthy historical past relationship again to the 18th century when it was once first settled via Arabian traders who named it ‘Jazira’. In 1900, a British land survey integrated St Martin’s Island as a part of British India, naming it after a Christian priest referred to as Saint Martin. Some reviews recommend that the island was once named after the then Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong, Mr Martin.
In 1937, when Myanmar was once separated from British India, the island remained a part of India. Following the Partition of 1947, it got here underneath Pakistani keep watch over and later become a part of Bangladesh after the Liberation Struggle of 1971. In 1974, Bangladesh and Myanmar reached an settlement, asserting the island as Bangladeshi territory.Maritime tussles with Myanmar
In spite of the 1974 settlement recognising St Martin’s Island as a part of Bangladesh, there were ongoing problems over the delimitation of the maritime boundary. Bangladeshi fishermen, who use the island as a significant fishing hub, have confronted detentions and caution pictures from Myanmar’s naval forces. Even though the island’s possession has no longer 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 World Tribunal for the Legislation of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered a landmark judgment asserting Bangladesh’s sovereignty over the island. This ruling had vital implications for Bangladesh’s territorial waters and its Unique Financial Zone (EEZ).Rohingya inflow into Bangladesh
The violent army crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 pressured over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to escape into neighbouring Bangladesh, with many searching for safe haven within the Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar, the arena’s greatest refugee camp. Given its proximity to St Martin’s Island, there were reviews of the Arakan Military, a gaggle banned via Myanmar, making an attempt to stake a declare at the island, even though Bangladesh has constantly denied those claims.
Sporadic incidents of gunfire between Myanmar’s junta and the Arakan Military have befell in recent times, prompting the Bangladeshi Military to deploy warships round St Martin’s Island.
Gentle area of St. Martin’s IslandUS-China Tussle
St Martin’s Island has performed an important position in Bangladesh’s politics for the reason that nation’s independence in 1971. Its strategic location close to the Bay of Bengal and its maritime boundary with Myanmar have attracted world passion, in particular from the USA and China, each searching for to toughen their presence within the area.
In June ultimate 12 months, High Minister Sheikh Hasina alleged that the USA had supposed to obtain St Martin’s Island to construct an army base in change for BNP’s electoral victory. She claimed that the BNP, if delivered to energy, would promote the island to the USA, a step she vowed by no means to permit whilst in place of work.
Her allegations have been strongly refuted via US State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller, who mentioned that the claims have been “no longer correct” and affirmed that “no discussions” about taking up the island had befell with the Bangladeshi executive.
With inputs from businesses

Author: OpenAI