SECURITY AT BAY OF BENGAL
SAINT MARTIN’S ISLAND,
HOT SPOT AT SEA
USA ARM TWISTED BANGLADESH
HASINA REFUSED, AND VICTIM OF
CONSPIRECY
SARASIJ MAJUMDER
Initially,
I remained quiet in my related BLOG, and didn’t want to disclose the name of the controversial
ISLAND.
But, days after resigning from her prime ministerial post
and leaving Bangladesh, ex-PM Sheikh Hasina accused the United States for her
ouster. One of the accusations Hasina hurled against Washington involved a tiny
island called Saint Martin’s. The Bangladeshi politician who is currently
residing in a safe house in India accused the US of ousting her from power
because she refused to hand over the Saint Martin’s island. While Saint
Martin’s Island is a tiny piece of land, it still holds geographical
significance. The island is touted to provide a “sway over the Bay of Bengal”.
On Sunday, the Ex. Bangladeshi Premier released an undelivered
speech which she wanted to deliver before she was forced to resign. In the
statement obtained by The Economic Times, the
79-year-old leader of the Awami League claimed that she could have retained her
power had she given away Bangladesh’s sovereignty over the island to USA.
“I could have remained in power if I had left St. Martin’s
and the Bay of Bengal to America,” she said in a message conveyed to her Awami
League supporters. It is pertinent to note that Hasina resigned and fled from
Dhaka following nationwide protests, started over a controversial quota system.
Within a few weeks, the quota system protests eventually
morphed into an anti-government and anti-Hasina Violent Mass Movement. After
Hasina left the country, Muhammad Yunus, an unconfirmed Puppet of CIA took charge as the Chief Adviser of
Bangladesh’s interim government, which has no Constitutional Status.
Donald Lu, Haas, Deep state with CIA, and a Dementia ridden
old Yankee converted “BANGLADESH” into a GEO--POLITICAL hot spot in S-E ASIA.
So, let’s take a look at what makes St Martin’s Island such an attractive piece of land in the Bay of Bengal for USA:
HISTORY OF ST MARTIN'S ISLAND
The island is also known as 'Narikel Jinjira' or
Coconut Island in Bengali, due to the abundance of coconut trees there. It is
also known as 'Daruchini Dwip' or Cinnamon Island. It is
Bangladesh's sole coral island.
The island was once an extension of the Teknaf peninsula but
was separated due to the submergence of a portion of the peninsula in sea.
However, this transformed the southernmost part of the peninsula into an
island, disconnected from the Bangladesh mainland.
The island is
located about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar., It is the
southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is also about 8 km west of the northwest
coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of the NAF River.
The island has a rich history, dating back to the eighteenth
century when it was first settled by Arabian merchants who named it 'Jazira'.
In 1900, a British land survey team included St Martin's Island as part of
British India and named it after a Christian priest called Saint Martin.
However, there are reports that the island has been named after the then Deputy
Commissioner of Chittagong, Mr Martin.
In 1937, the island remained a part of British India after
Myanmar was separated from it. It remained so until the Partition of 1947, when
it went into Pakistan's control.
Later on, the coral island became a part of Bangladesh after
the Liberation War of 1971, Bangladesh's Daily Star reported.
However, Myanmar contested it, and sent Naval Ships.
In 1974, Bangladesh and Myanmar reached an agreement that
the coral island would be a part of territory of Bangladesh’s territory, --Daily Star reported.
MARITIME BOUNDARY ISSUE WITH MYANMAR
Despite the 1974 agreement recognizing St Martin's Island as
a Bangladeshi territory, there were issues over the delimitation of the
maritime boundary of the island. Bangladeshi fishermen often use their boats to
the island, a major fishing hub, and faced detentions and firing warnings from
Myanmar's naval forces.
The island, till date, has not faced any questions about
Bangladeshi ownership. But, it was the delimitation of the maritime boundary
that threatened to spark a sovereignty war in the region, given its strategic
location near the Bay of Bengal.
In 2012, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
(ITLOS), in a landmark judgment, affirmed Bangladesh's sovereignty over the
coral island, in a ruling that had significant implications for the country's
territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
INHABITANTS:-.
The island has a surface area of only three square
kilometres and is home to around 3,700 residents who primarily engaged in
fishing, rice cultivation, coconut farming, and seaweed harvesting, which is
dried and exported to Myanmar.
This is
an attractive piece of land not only for tourism but also for trade, and Military Base as well.
ROHINGYA INFLUX INTO BANGLADESH
A violent military crackdown by Myanmar forced over seven lakh
Rohingyas, who are primarily Muslims, to flee into neighbouring
Bangladesh in 2017. Thousands of them are camped in Kutupalong refugee camp in
Cox's Bazar, the world's largest refugee camp.
And with Cox's Bazar located very close to St Martin's
Island, there are reports that members of the Arakan Army, an outfit banned by
Myanmar, are trying to stake claim to the island, though Bangladesh has denied
it repeatedly.
There have been sporadic incidents of firing of shots
between Myanmar's junta and the Arakan Army in the past few years. This has
prompted the Bangladeshi Navy to deploy warships around St Martin's Island.
ST MARTIN'S GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE
St Martin's Island has dominated Bangladesh politics since
the country came into existence in 1971. Its proximity to the Bay of Bengal and
the maritime boundary with Myanmar have led to international interest,
particularly from the US and China, in using the island to strengthen their
presence in the region.
In June last year, Sheikh Hasina alleged that the US had
intended to acquire St Martin's Island and build a military base in exchange
for the BNP's victory in elections. She also claimed that the BNP, if voted to
power, would sell the island to the US.
She asserted that her government would have remained in
power even if St Martin's Island was leased out to USA, but she said she would
never allow such a step till she was in office.
"The BNP came to power in 2001 by pledging to sell gas.
Now they want to sell the country. They want to come to power by pledging to
sell St Martin's Island. I have no intention to go to power by selling the
country's assets," Sheikh Hasina was quoted by Bangladeshi newspaper
Prothom Alo as saying.
Her allegations drew a flat rebuttal from US State
Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, who called them "not
accurate" and said that "no discussions" on taking over the
island were discussed with the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
"We have never engaged in any conversations about
taking over St Martin's Island. We value our partnership with Bangladesh. We
strive to bolster our relationship by working together to promote democracy,
including by supporting free and fair elections," he said.
Bangladesh's claims of St Martin's Island being taken over
by the US came following unconfirmed reports that the US was unhappy with Dhaka
cosying up with China and wanted to take counter steps to diminish Beijing's
influence in South Asia.
It also came at a time when China is locked in several
territorial disputes with several Southeast Asian countries in the South China
Sea, another strategic location like the Bay of Bengal.
STRATEJIC IMPORTANCE:
The island holds a strong strategic advantage.
Hypothetically, if a country set up a military base in St Martin’s island, they would automatically have a presence near
the Strait of Malacca, which China has been using majorly for their
transportation. The Base will have an eye, and if required, some control
over E>>><<<W sea route in
Indian sea.
Also, the HINTERLAND Chattogram/ Cox Bazar is very close to serve
the base.
The island can also provide a country to conduct
surveillance over not just China’s and Myanmar’s activities, but also to look
into what India is up to.
With China asserting its dominance in several areas of the
Indo-Pacific region, the island provides a strong base to counter Beijing’s
presence.
However, in spite of 1974 agreement, there has been a diplomatic tussle over the
matter in recent years. Back in 2018, Myanmar garnered attention when it
included Saint Martin’s Island on its official map. The map was eventually
deleted with the foreign ministry calling it a “mistake”. The Rohingyas also
use the island to flee from Myanmar and enter Bangladesh.
Myanmar’s new military junta was accused of sending ships in
the region forcing the Bangladeshi Navy to deploy its own vessels near the
island. It is pertinent to note that the International Tribunal for the Law of
the Sea (ITLOS) recognises St Martin’s Island as part of Bangladesh.
ANALYSIS:-
1.0 We can’t understand why suddenly USA became sensitive
about “DEMOCRACY” in a small S-E Asian
nation state, and Last Election in Bangladesh. We detect fire by SMOKE!
2.0 Pakistan’s score is much worse in this respect for more
than 50 years, and USA not only developed thick skin in that respect, but also
put “NELSON’S EYE”.
3. Why the Deep State agent Donald Lu appears, and dis-appears and after that
trouble starts?
4.0 Myanmar is diplomatically very close to China—and
physically close to the island—a matter of concern for USA.
5.0 However—India hasn’t expressed any statement in this
matter, though India’s maritime security
could get affected, in the Island is out of control of Bangladesh.
6.0 According
to Bangladeshi academic and activist Sharin Shajahan Naomi, the US offer to
Bangladesh to take up St Martin Island on lease for setting up an airbase has
been standing for a long time.
7.0 BUT, THAT IS NOT THE ALL STORY, Dr. WATSON. IT IS VAPOUR STATE OF BLACK GOLD. WAIT FOR MY NEXT BLOG ON THAT.
Reference:- Some are listed in the text. Others listed
below.
1.0 Geography Book on Bangladesh.
2.0 News Papers:- Dainik Ittefaq, Prothom Alo, Daily Star, TOI, ET, HT, NYT.
3.0 Public Domains on Bangladesh.
4.0 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-Saint-Martins-Island-in-Bangladesh_fig1_302631580
6.0https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!international/explained-hasina-and-the-geostrategic-importance-of-st-martin-island-in-bangladesh-enn24081104119
Image:-- Google. The credit of owner is accorded.
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