Location:

• Situated in the northeastern Bay of Bengal, 9 km south of Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf, Bangladesh.
• Only coral island of Bangladesh; area of 3 sq km; population ~3,700.

Economic Activities:

• Fishing, rice farming, coconut cultivation, seaweed harvesting.
• Exports mainly to Myanmar.

Strategic Significance:

• For the US:
  • • Potential military base could secure control over Malacca Strait.
    • Key for monitoring China, Myanmar, and India.
    • Could obstruct China’s Cox’s Bazar port project.
• For Myanmar:

• • Claims the island as its territory.
  • 2018: Included the island in its official map; 

• Current military government has been hostile to ships near the island.

Political Controversy:

• Bangladesh Politics:
  • Sheikh Hasina alleged the US wanted the island for a military base.
  • Claimed opposition (BNP) might sell the island to the US if in power.
  • The US denied these allegations.

International Dispute:

• Myanmar:
  • Disputes Bangladesh’s sovereignty over the island.
  • Armed conflict between Myanmar and Bangladesh navies near the island.
  • The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has recognized the island as Bangladeshi territory.