St. Maarten (Photo: Unsplash)
NEW DELHI: Sheikh Hasina's son Sajid Wazeb on Sunday denied reports that the former Bangladeshi prime minister had, in an unpublished speech, accused the US of plotting against her.
“My mother's statement of resignation published in the newspapers is completely false and fabricated. I have checked with my mother and she never made any statement either before or after she left Dhaka,” Wazed wrote.
So, the main questions that arise from these reports are why Hasina raised the issue of St. Martin amid ongoing protests, and further, what is the importance of St. Martin and the reasons for the alleged US interest in it?
Where is Saint Martin?
St. Martin Island is located in the northeastern Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of Cox's Bazar-Teknaf, the southernmost peninsula of Bangladesh, close to the Myanmar border. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh.
Why is St. Maarten so popular?
St. Maarten has been a focus of Bangladeshi politics since Bangladesh's independence in 1971 due to its strategic location near the Bay of Bengal and bordering the maritime border with Myanmar. This interest has attracted global attention, especially from the United States and China, which want to expand their presence in the region. Last June, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused the United States of trying to buy St. Maarten and build a military base there in exchange for supporting the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the elections. Hasina maintained that the BNP would sell the island to the United States if it came to power, but that she would not allow such a deal while she is in power.
The US State Department quickly denied these allegations, saying there were no talks about buying St. Martin and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh through support for democracy and free elections. The controversy comes amid unconfirmed reports suggesting the US is seeking to counter Chinese influence in South Asia, as China faces several territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Get live breaking news with Times Now, bringing you the latest news and top stories from Asia, the World and around the world.
Source link