Sheikh Hasina, the deposed former leader of Bangladesh, claimed that the United States may have played a part in her resignation and subsequent banishment from the nation.
According to The Economic Times, Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh who was overthrown, claimed that she could still be in office if she had given the US sovereignty over Saint Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal.
About Saint Martin Island
Saint Martin’s Island, sometimes referred to as Daruchini Dwip (Cinnamon Island) or Narikel Jinjira (Coconut Island), is a tiny island in the northeastern Bay of Bengal that is just 3 km square. About 9 kilometers to the south of the Cox’s Bazar-Tankaf peninsula is where it is situated.
It is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, which includes crystal-clear blue waters and a variety of marine life, including corals, as the only coral island in Bangladesh.
It is also a well-liked travel destination, particularly in the winter when the temperature is more bearable. The 5,500 people who live on the island are mainly supported by tourism, fishing, and rice and coconut farming.
Because they couldn’t agree on how to define their maritime borders, Bangladesh and Myanmar had disputed each other’s sovereign claims over the island. Fishing rights in the area have caused conflict between the two countries.
The island is a portion of Bangladesh’s continental shelf, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to a 2012 ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
The island was depicted on an updated map of Myanmar’s sovereign territory in 2018, which sparked protests from the Bangladeshi government. Myanmar later apologized for the “mistake” in the map.
Why Bay of Bengal is strategic?
China’s strategy to contain India in the Indian Ocean region through the construction of military bases and economic trade corridors, known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is highlighted by Sheikh Hasina’s allegation.
Bangladesh and China have teamed up on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which India views as an infringement on its sovereignty because it goes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (Pok).
Washington has become increasingly concerned about China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region, and in response it has developed its own Indo-Pacific strategy, in which India plays a significant strategic role.
In reaction to China’s ascent in the region, the two nations have also created additional mechanisms, such as the Malabar naval exercises and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).
