NEWS – Bangladesh’s St Martin’s Island has come under spotlight after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation

ABOUT THE ISLAND

Geographical Location

    – Located in the northeastern region of the Bay of Bengal

    – Close to the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar

    – 9 km away from the southern tip of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula

Physical Characteristics

Size and Elevation

    – 7.3 km long

    – Mostly flat

    – Elevation of 3.6 meters above mean sea level

Coral Reefs and Sea Turtles

    – Bangladesh’s only coral island

    – Reefs located 10-15 km to the west-northwest

    – Breeding ground for sea turtles

History of the Island

Geological History

    – Once part of the Teknaf peninsula (around 5,000 years ago)

    – Gradually submerged into the sea

    – Resurfaced around 450 years ago

Settlement and Naming

    – Arab merchants settled on the island in the 18th Century

    – Initially named “Jazira” or “Narikel Jinjira” (Coconut Island)

    – Annexed by British India in 1900 and named St Martin’s Island

British Occupation and Legacy

    – Fishermen from Bengali and Rakhine communities settled on the island

    – Named after Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Martin during British occupation