St Martin’s Island

• 17 Aug 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resignation, St Martin's Island came into controversy over its lease to another nation.

What are the Key Facts about St Martin's Island?

• About:
  • St Martin’s Island is located in the northeastern region of the Bay of Bengal, close to the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. 
  • It is nine kilometres away from the southern tip of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula.
    • The 7.3 km long island is at an elevation of 3.6 metres above the mean sea level. 
  • It is Bangladesh’s only coral island and is also a breeding ground for sea turtles.
• History:
  • The island was once part of the Teknaf peninsula around 5,000 years ago, but gradually got submerged into the sea. 
    • Around 450 years ago, the southern suburbs of present-day St Martin's Island resurfaced, and the northern and rest of the parts of the island rose above sea level in the following 100 years.
  • The Arab merchants were among the first to settle on the island, arriving in the 18th Century.
    • They initially named it "Jazira" (meaning "the island" or "the peninsula") and later changed it to "Narikel Jinjira" or "Coconut Island".
  • In 1900, British India annexed the island during a land survey. During which the island came to be known as St Martin's Island, named after then Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Martin.
    • After the partition of British India in 1947, it became part of Pakistan and subsequently, a part of independent Bangladesh after the 1971 Liberation War.

1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

• Background:
  • After its independence, Pakistan was divided into East and West Pakistan.
    • Geographical disconnect between the two regions, economic exploitation of east by west pakistan, Cultural conflicts and negligence of East Pak’s administration were major challenges.
  • In the mid-1960s, leaders such as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (the founding father of Bangladesh), actively began protesting against the policies of West Pak which was followed by a brutal crackdown by the Pakistani military.
• India’s Role:
  • On 15^th May 1971, India launched Operation Jackpot to recruit, train, arm, equip, supply and advise Mukti Bahini fighters engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Pakistan military.
  • On 3rd December 1971, India decided to go on a war with Pakistan to save Bengali Muslims and Hindus in East Pakistan. The war lasted for 13 days.
  • After that, a written agreement between India, Pakistan and the provisional government of Bangladesh came into effect bringing an end to the Bangladesh Liberation War.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until (2014)

(a) the First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended

(b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911

(c) Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement

(d) the Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan

Ans: (b)