Photo: Messenger
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has categorically said that Bangladesh would be forced to fire back if Myanmar further shoots any firing targeting Bangladesh ships on the St. Martin route. An unidentified armed group from Myanmar fired at an island-bound speed boat along the Naf River on June 11. Furthermore, warships belonging to Myanmar were also visible on the St. Martin route. These continued bodacious incidents have disrupted efforts to restore waterway communications between the island and the Coxs Bazar, plunging the people of the island into a deep food crisis for at least 12 days.
Responding to a query in this regard, Kamal said, We will respond accordingly if Myanmar further shoots any fire towards our ships. He also advised the authorities concerned about operating ships or boats in the Naf River to hoist national flags. Myanmar confirmed that its soldiers were firing at their dissidents, the Arakan Army, said the home minister. So its not a big deal for Bangladesh because this type of scenario is very much common for the border area people. Another side, the junta government and the private militant group of Arakan are facing themselves in chaotic situation. Most of the areas of Arakan state are in the control of Arakan Army. So the junta government of Myanmar have tried their to show their maximum effort to protest the Arakan and the rest of the rebellion group in Myanmar. For that reason, they got attempt to secure their area, basically to save the border line camp and take initiative by patrolling ship on their own land.
Saint Martins Island is under Bangladesh's jurisdiction; it is only eight kilometers from the Myanmar coast. The islands southern and western parts are bordered by an endless expanse of the Bay of Bengal, while the northern coast faces mainland Bangladesh. The island is around nine kilometers away from Teknaf, a subdistrict in Coxs Bazar District. To Saint Martins east lies Myanmar's Rakhine State, which has recently been the site of fierce fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, one of many ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that have joined the resistance against the junta government.
Now the conflict between the resistance group and the junta has reached the doorstep of the island. On June 5, a boat carrying election equipment and officials was fired upon from Myanmar's territory as it returned from the island. Luckily, no one was shot. The situation became worse on June 8, when gunfire halted a cargo vessel travelling from Teknaf to Saint Martins. As a result, the local administration suspended travel on this route, leaving over 10,000 residents of the island facing a severe shortage of daily necessities, including food. On June 11, an unidentified armed group from Myanmar fired upon an island-bound speed boat along the Naf River. Moreover, warships belonging to Myanmar are now visible from Saint Martins.
On October 27, 2023, fighting between the Myanmar junta and resistance forces in the north, including Rakhine State, intensified dramatically as an alliance of three EAOs launched an offensive known as
Operation 1027. The Three Brotherhood alliance, made up of the Arakan Army (AA), Taang National Liberation Army, and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, launched coordinated attacks on military positions across northern Myanmar. This operation was reported to have caused many casualties and posed a new challenge to the generals who seized power in February 2021.
The resistance struggle has been characterised by a mix of conventional and guerrilla warfare tactics and resistance groups have made significant gains against the junta in recent months. Since October 27, the fighting has come ever closer to the 271-kilometer Bangladesh-Myanmar border. On February 6 of this year, it was reported that 264 Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel had entered Bangladesh, including some with critical injuries who were being treated at local hospitals. Since then, more than 1,000 BGP personnel have reportedly fled to Bangladesh. On June 13, at least 28 defeated Myanmar junta troops fled across the border to Bangladesh amid ongoing conflict with the AA in northern Rakhine State.
The situation is particularly worrisome for Saint Martins Island, as every year from October to March the island opens for tourists. During the peak period, locals estimate that 5,000–8,000 tourists visit Saint Martins every day.
However, many times, stray bullets fired from Myanmar troops and resistance groups have caused feared among Bangladeshi civilians. Reports of bullets fired from Myanmar territory towards Bangladeshi fishing boats have occasionally reached the media, though this year such incidents have become more frequent.
Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the Awami League and the minister of roads, transport, and bridges, stated that efforts are underway to address the issue of Myanmars firing on the island through diplomatic discussions. Bangladesh aims to resolve the matter peacefully through dialogue, avoiding conflict, but will respond if attacked, he said.
Back in 2018, Myanmar included Saint Martins Island on its official map, suggesting it was attempting to claim the island. The government of the time removed it after diplomatic discussions between the two countries, but that administration has since been ousted by the current junta.
However, in a landmark judgment on March 14, 2012, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered its verdict on the maritime boundary between the two countries. The tribunal had to delimit the territorial sea boundary, the single maritime boundary between the EEZs, and the continental shelves boundary beyond 200 nautical miles from the nations respective baselines. So those people who are trying to spread out the propaganda based on Saint Martin Island must be treated as enemy of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a sovereign state; no one cant take step that threats the security of our motherland.
The writer is Assistant Professor and Chairman, Department of Criminology and Police Science, University of Chittagong.
Messenger/Disha
