St. Maarten Island (Photo: Unsplash)

New Delhi: Sheikh Hasinason of Sajid Wajib Reports claiming that the former Bangladesh prime minister had made the allegation were denied on Sunday. The United States of conspiring against him in an unsolicited speech.

Wazeed wrote, “The recent resignation statement attributed to my mother in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated. I have only confirmed with her that she left Dhaka before or after.” No statement was made,” Wazeed wrote.

Now the main question that emerges from these reports is why Prime Minister Hasina would raise the issue of sovereignty over the island of St. Maarten amidst the ongoing protests against her. Furthermore, what is the significance of the island of St. Maarten, and what is America’s alleged interest in it?

Where is Saint Martin Island located?

St. Maarten Island is located in the northeastern Bay of Bengal, the southernmost peninsula of Bangladesh, about nine kilometers south of Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf, close to the border with Myanmar. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh.

Why is the island of St. Maarten the center of attention?

The island of St. Maarten has been a focal point in Bangladeshi politics since the country’s independence in 1971, due to its strategic location near the Bay of Bengal and its maritime border with Myanmar. This interest has attracted global attention, particularly from the US and China, which are keen to expand their regional presence. In June last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused the US of planning to acquire the island of St. Maarten to build a military base in return for supporting the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the elections. He claimed that the BNP would sell the island to the US if it came to power, but insisted that his government would not allow such a transaction.

The US State Department immediately denied the allegations, saying there had been no discussions about the acquisition of the island of St. Maarten, and reiterated its commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh through support for democracy and free elections. . The dispute arose amid unconfirmed reports that the US was trying to counter China’s influence in South Asia, especially as China faces several territorial disputes in the South China Sea. .