The violence in Bangladesh is not slowing down. As a result, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also forced to leave her nation. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has made a major confession, blaming America for her government’s downfall.
Sheikh Hasina stated, “If I had given up sovereignty over St. Martin Island and allowed America to establish its dominance in the Bay of Bengal, I would have remained in power.”
Sheikh Hasina’s speech has reignited debate over St. Martin Island. However, the most important question in this case is why America wants it.
Roll back in the History
The conflict over St. Martin Island first came to the forefront in the 1960s when students of the then-East Pakistan Student League and Some leftists claimed that Pakistan’s military chief, General Ayub Khan, had leased the island to the United States to establish a military facility to confront India.
However, the conflict was resolved once Bangladesh was formed in 1971. However, the controversy persisted long after Bangladesh was formed. Later, the issue arose during the military dictatorship of Zia ur Rahman and Mohammad Ershad.
The US had an eye over the island, knowing the intentions of the US government in 1980 Khabar Dainik Bangla published an article titled ‘No one would be allowed to build a military facility in St. Martin.
In this, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry claimed in their statement that (the US) has not been granted permission to set up its naval facility on St. Martin’s Island. In June 2023, then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused the BNP of gaining power by selling St. Martin Island.
The United States was forced to provide clarification when the situation became more serious. However, in April of this year, it was reported that if the United States was handed St. Martin Island to develop a military post, the Bangladeshi government would face no threat.
However, Hasina did not name the country, which was assumed to be the United States.
Strategic Importance of the Island
Because of its location in the Bay of Bengal, the island holds significant strategic value. America aims to neutralize China’s growing threat by establishing a base on this island. If America can develop and establish a military facility here, it will gain an advantage over China.
Final Thoughts
At the same time, the issue is that Bangladesh maintains excellent relations with China. China is the leading lender to Bangladesh.
In such a case, the Sheikh Hasina government did not want the Bay of Bengal to become a battleground for superpowers. A foreign military presence in the Bay of Bengal would be unsettling for India as well.
