Saint Martin's Island: Bangladesh, Myanmar, ITLOS 2012 & Important Exam Facts
A fact-checked guide to Saint Martin's Island covering its location, history, Bangladesh–Myanmar maritime boundary, ITLOS judgment, coral ecosystem, protected status, tourism rules and important competitive-exam facts.
Saint Martin's Island, locally known as Narikel Jinjira, is Bangladesh's southernmost island in the northeastern Bay of Bengal near Myanmar; it played an important role in the Bangladesh–Myanmar maritime-boundary case decided by ITLOS on 14 March 2012.
Latest Update – 14 August 2026
- Saint Martin's Island is currently closed to tourist travel as on 14 August 2026.
- Under the current environmental guidelines, tourism is closed from 1 February to 31 October.
- The permitted tourism period is 1 November to 31 January.
- Daily tourist numbers are capped at 2,000 visitors.
- November: day visits only.
- December and January: overnight stays are permitted under the rules.
If an examination asks about Saint Martin's Island in 2026, remember that Bangladesh has imposed strict seasonal tourism restrictions to protect the island's fragile biodiversity.
1. Where Is Saint Martin's Island?
Saint Martin's Island is located in the northeastern Bay of Bengal and forms the southernmost part of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's Marine Biodiversity Portal places it about 9 km south of the mouth of the Naf River.
It lies between approximately:
Longitude → 92°18′ E to 92°21′ E
Administratively, Saint Martin's Island is connected with the Teknaf area of Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh.
Saint Martin's Island → Bay of Bengal → Bangladesh → near Myanmar
2. Other Name – Narikel Jinjira
Saint Martin's Island is locally known as Narikel Jinjira or Narikel Zinzira.
The name is associated with the coconut palms found on the island.
Saint Martin's Island = Narikel Jinjira
Saint Martin's Island – Quick Facts
| Topic | Important Fact |
|---|---|
| Island | Saint Martin's Island |
| Local name | Narikel Jinjira |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| District | Cox's Bazar |
| Nearby international neighbour | Myanmar |
| Water body | Bay of Bengal |
| Southernmost part of | Bangladesh |
| Important international tribunal | International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea |
| ITLOS judgment | 14 March 2012 |
| Legal framework | UNCLOS |
3. Historical Background
During the colonial period, Burma was administered as part of British India before being formally separated from India in 1937.
Historical accounts of Saint Martin's Island note that it remained on the British Indian side when Burma was separated from British India.
After the partition of British India in 1947, the area became part of Pakistan.
Following Bangladesh's Liberation War and independence in 1971, Saint Martin's Island formed part of Bangladesh.
British India
↓
1937 – Burma separated
↓
1947 – Pakistan
↓
1971 – Bangladesh
4. What Happened in 1974?
Bangladesh and Burma, now Myanmar, held negotiations concerning their maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.
In 1974, their delegations signed a document known as the 1974 Agreed Minutes.
The document recorded an understanding concerning the first sector of the territorial-sea boundary around Saint Martin's Island.
It is misleading to say:
“A binding 1974 agreement permanently settled ownership of Saint Martin's Island.”
The 2012 ITLOS judgment held that the 1974 Agreed Minutes were not a legally binding agreement within the meaning of Article 15 of UNCLOS.
ITLOS described them as a record of a conditional understanding reached during negotiations.
5. What Happened in 2008?
Bangladesh and Myanmar again recorded Agreed Minutes in 2008 during their continuing maritime-boundary negotiations.
The 2008 document referred back to the 1974 understanding and plotted coordinates on a more recent chart.
However, ITLOS also concluded that the 2008 Agreed Minutes did not constitute an independent legally binding maritime-boundary agreement.
6. Bangladesh vs Myanmar – ITLOS Case
Bangladesh and Myanmar were unable to reach a complete settlement of their maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.
The dispute ultimately came before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) .
ITLOS delivered its landmark judgment on 14 March 2012.
Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal
Parties: Bangladesh and Myanmar
Tribunal: ITLOS
Judgment: 14 March 2012
7. Did ITLOS Decide Who Owns Saint Martin's Island?
This point is frequently misunderstood.
The 2012 ITLOS proceedings were fundamentally about maritime-boundary delimitation between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The Tribunal was not deciding between rival sovereignty claims over the land territory of Saint Martin's Island.
In fact, in the proceedings Myanmar itself referred to Saint Martin's Island as belonging to Bangladesh.
“In 2012 ITLOS awarded ownership of Saint Martin's Island to Bangladesh.”
Better Exam Statement:
ITLOS decided the Bangladesh–Myanmar maritime boundary and gave Saint Martin's Island full effect in delimiting the territorial sea.
8. Saint Martin's Island and the 12-Nautical-Mile Territorial Sea
ITLOS considered whether Saint Martin's Island should receive full effect when drawing the territorial-sea boundary.
The Tribunal noted that Saint Martin's Island is a significant maritime feature because of its size, permanent population and economic activities.
It concluded that there were no compelling reasons to reduce the island's effect in the territorial-sea delimitation.
Saint Martin's Island received full effect for territorial-sea delimitation.
Bangladesh was recognised as having a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea around the island where that territorial sea no longer overlapped Myanmar's territorial sea.
9. Territorial Sea vs EEZ – Important Legal Distinction
Saint Martin's Island was important in determining the territorial-sea boundary, but the Tribunal used a different approach when delimiting the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf.
This makes Saint Martin's Island a useful example for learning that an island's effect may differ depending on which maritime zone is being delimited.
| Maritime Zone | Basic Exam Concept |
|---|---|
| Territorial Sea | Extends up to 12 nautical miles under UNCLOS, subject to delimitation where neighbouring claims overlap. |
| Exclusive Economic Zone | May extend up to 200 nautical miles from the relevant baselines, subject to maritime delimitation with neighbouring States. |
| Continental Shelf | Concerns sovereign rights over the seabed and subsoil under UNCLOS rules. |
10. What Is UNCLOS?
UNCLOS stands for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
It provides the international legal framework for matters such as:
- Territorial seas
- Exclusive Economic Zones
- Continental shelves
- Navigation rights
- Maritime-boundary delimitation
- Marine resources
UNCLOS → Law of the Sea
ITLOS → Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
11. Is Saint Martin's Island Really a Coral Island?
Saint Martin's Island is very commonly described in textbooks, tourism articles and newspapers as Bangladesh's only coral island.
However, Bangladesh's Marine Biodiversity Portal provides a more scientifically precise explanation.
It states that Saint Martin's Island is the only island in Bangladesh supporting flourishing scleractinian coral communities and associated flora and fauna.
But the island's base rock is tertiary-age sandstone, not accumulated coral deposits.
The portal therefore explains that technically Saint Martin's is not a true “coral island”.
Popular GK → “Bangladesh's only coral island.”
Scientific description → Bangladesh's only island supporting flourishing scleractinian coral communities; technically the island is built on sandstone and there are no true coral reefs around it.
12. Why Is Saint Martin's Island Environmentally Important?
The waters and coastal habitats surrounding Saint Martin's support a rich marine ecosystem.
Important habitats include:
- Hard-coral communities
- Soft corals
- Rocky intertidal habitats
- Sandy beaches
- Seaweed beds
- Seagrass beds
- Rocky subtidal habitats
Bangladesh's Marine Biodiversity Portal reports 98 species of hard corals from Saint Martin's Island in the referenced scientific literature.
13. Saint Martin Marine Protected Area
In January 2022, Bangladesh declared a large marine area surrounding Saint Martin's Island as the Saint Martin Marine Protected Area.
The purpose of the designation is to conserve marine biodiversity and address pressures such as:
- Unsustainable tourism
- Waste and plastic pollution
- Damage to coral communities
- Overfishing
- Disturbance to marine wildlife
14. Tourism Rules – 2025–26 Conservation Policy
Bangladesh has introduced strict controls on tourism to reduce pressure on Saint Martin's fragile environment.
| Period | Tourism Rule |
|---|---|
| February – October | Closed to tourist travel |
| November | Day tourism permitted; no overnight stay |
| December – January | Tourism permitted and overnight stays allowed |
| Daily Limit | Maximum 2,000 tourists under the current rules |
Other Environmental Restrictions
- No harmful activities affecting corals
- No harm to sea turtles and important wildlife
- Restrictions on single-use plastics
- No motorcycles or other motorised vehicles on beaches
- Restrictions on loud noise and night lighting
- Restrictions on beach barbecues at night
15. Why Is Saint Martin's Island Strategically Important?
Saint Martin's Island attracts geopolitical attention because of its location close to the Bangladesh–Myanmar maritime frontier in the northeastern Bay of Bengal.
Its importance is related to:
- Maritime boundaries
- Territorial-sea navigation
- Bay of Bengal security
- Marine resources
- Fishing
- Environmental conservation
- Bangladesh–Myanmar relations
Saint Martin's Island is often surrounded by political claims, rumours and social-media narratives.
For examinations, rely on official Bangladesh sources, UNCLOS and the 2012 ITLOS judgment rather than unsupported geopolitical claims.
Saint Martin's Island – Static GK Booster
| Question Point | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| Saint Martin's Island belongs to | Bangladesh |
| Located in | Bay of Bengal |
| Local name | Narikel Jinjira |
| Administrative district | Cox's Bazar |
| Nearby country | Myanmar |
| Important river nearby | Naf River |
| International maritime tribunal | ITLOS |
| ITLOS judgment date | 14 March 2012 |
| International law framework | UNCLOS |
| Territorial sea | 12 nautical miles |
| Marine Protected Area declared | 2022 |
| Saint Martin MPA area | ≈1,743 sq. km |
| Current tourist closure | 1 February – 31 October |
Important Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1937 | Burma was separated administratively from British India; Saint Martin's remained on the British Indian side. |
| 1947 | Following Partition, Saint Martin's became part of Pakistan. |
| 1971 | Bangladesh became independent; Saint Martin's became part of Bangladesh. |
| 1974 | Bangladesh and Burma recorded Agreed Minutes during maritime-boundary negotiations. |
| 2008 | Further Agreed Minutes were recorded during negotiations. |
| 2009 | Bangladesh initiated proceedings concerning the maritime boundary dispute. |
| 2012 | ITLOS delivered its landmark judgment on 14 March. |
| 2022 | Saint Martin Marine Protected Area declared. |
| 2026 | Strict seasonal tourism controls continue to protect biodiversity. |
Easy Memory Trick
B → Bangladesh
M → Myanmar neighbour
1974 → Agreed Minutes
2012 → ITLOS Judgment
2022 → Marine Protected Area
2026 → Seasonal tourism restrictions
Do Not Confuse
| Common Claim | Accurate Understanding |
|---|---|
| 1974 Agreement permanently decided ownership of the island | Incorrect. The 1974 Agreed Minutes concerned maritime-boundary negotiations, and ITLOS held that they did not constitute a legally binding agreement under Article 15 of UNCLOS. |
| ITLOS awarded Saint Martin's Island to Bangladesh in 2012 | Misleading. The case concerned maritime delimitation. Ownership of the island was not the competing sovereignty issue before the Tribunal. |
| Myanmar claimed Saint Martin's Island as its territory in the ITLOS case | No. Myanmar's submissions in the judgment referred to Saint Martin's Island as belonging to Bangladesh while arguing about how much effect it should receive in maritime delimitation. |
| Saint Martin's is scientifically a true coral island | Popular description, but technically inaccurate. Its base is sandstone and Bangladesh's marine portal states there are no true coral reefs around it. |
| Territorial Sea = EEZ | Incorrect. Territorial sea generally extends up to 12 nm; EEZ may extend up to 200 nm, subject to delimitation. |
| Saint Martin is open for tourism throughout 2026 | Incorrect. Current rules close tourist travel from 1 February to 31 October. |
10 Exam-Focused MCQs – Saint Martin's Island
Select an answer. The correct answer and explanation will appear automatically.
1. Saint Martin's Island belongs to which country?
Saint Martin's Island forms the southernmost part of Bangladesh.
2. Saint Martin's Island is located in which water body?
3. What is the local name of Saint Martin's Island?
4. The Bangladesh–Myanmar maritime-boundary judgment concerning Saint Martin's Island was delivered by:
ITLOS stands for International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
5. In which year did ITLOS deliver the Bangladesh–Myanmar maritime-boundary judgment?
Judgment was delivered on 14 March 2012.
6. What did ITLOS conclude about the 1974 Agreed Minutes?
ITLOS treated the 1974 Minutes as a conditional understanding during negotiations rather than a legally binding agreement under Article 15 of UNCLOS.
7. The territorial sea recognised around Saint Martin's Island can extend up to:
8. Which statement is scientifically most accurate about Saint Martin's Island?
Bangladesh's Marine Biodiversity Portal says the island's base is tertiary sandstone and that flourishing coral communities occur in surrounding waters.
9. Saint Martin Marine Protected Area was declared in:
About 1,743 sq. km around Saint Martin was designated as a Marine Protected Area.
10. As on 14 August 2026, Saint Martin's Island is closed to tourist travel during which period?
The restriction is part of measures to protect the island's environment and biodiversity.
Quick Revision – 18 Must-Remember Points
- Saint Martin's Island belongs to Bangladesh.
- It lies in the Bay of Bengal.
- It is the southernmost part of Bangladesh.
- It is located close to Myanmar.
- Its local name is Narikel Jinjira.
- It lies near the Naf River.
- Burma was separated from British India in 1937.
- Saint Martin's became part of Pakistan after 1947.
- It became part of independent Bangladesh in 1971.
- Bangladesh and Burma recorded Agreed Minutes in 1974.
- ITLOS held that the 1974 Minutes were not a legally binding maritime-boundary agreement.
- ITLOS delivered its judgment on 14 March 2012.
- ITLOS gave Saint Martin's Island full effect in the territorial-sea delimitation.
- Bangladesh has a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea around the island where it does not overlap Myanmar's.
- Saint Martin is popularly called Bangladesh's only coral island, but technically its base rock is sandstone.
- It supports flourishing scleractinian coral communities.
- Saint Martin Marine Protected Area was declared in 2022.
- Tourist travel is closed from 1 February to 31 October under the current conservation rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country does Saint Martin's Island belong to?
Saint Martin's Island is part of Bangladesh and forms the country's southernmost island territory.
Where is Saint Martin's Island located?
It lies in the northeastern Bay of Bengal, close to Myanmar and south of the Naf River and Teknaf region.
What is the local name of Saint Martin's Island?
It is locally known as Narikel Jinjira.
Did a 1974 treaty establish Bangladesh's ownership of Saint Martin's Island?
No. Bangladesh and Burma signed Agreed Minutes during maritime negotiations in 1974, but ITLOS later held that these Minutes did not constitute a legally binding agreement under Article 15 of UNCLOS.
What did ITLOS decide about Saint Martin's Island in 2012?
ITLOS gave Saint Martin's Island full effect in the territorial-sea delimitation and recognised Bangladesh's entitlement to a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea around the island where it does not overlap Myanmar's territorial sea.
Did ITLOS decide that Saint Martin's Island belongs to Bangladesh?
The 2012 case was a maritime-boundary delimitation case, not a competing land-sovereignty dispute. Myanmar itself referred to Saint Martin's Island in the proceedings as belonging to Bangladesh.
Is Saint Martin's Island a true coral island?
It is popularly described as Bangladesh's only coral island, but Bangladesh's Marine Biodiversity Portal explains that technically it is not a true coral island because its base rock is tertiary sandstone. It does, however, support flourishing coral communities.
Can tourists visit Saint Martin's Island in August 2026?
No. Under the current conservation rules, tourist travel is closed from 1 February through 31 October. The tourism season is scheduled from November through January.
Reliable Sources and References
- International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea – Bangladesh/Myanmar Case No. 16
- ITLOS – Judgment of 14 March 2012
- Marine Biodiversity Portal of Bangladesh – Saint Martin's Island Coral Communities
- Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha – Saint Martin Marine Protected Area
- Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha – Saint Martin Tourism Restrictions 2026
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea – UNCLOS
This article has been revised using the 2012 ITLOS judgment, Bangladesh's Marine Biodiversity Portal and current Bangladesh tourism/conservation information.
Two important corrections were made:
1. The 1974 Agreed Minutes were not held to be a legally binding maritime-boundary treaty.
2. The 2012 ITLOS case delimited maritime boundaries; it did not “award” the land territory of Saint Martin's Island to Bangladesh in a sovereignty dispute.
Conclusion
Saint Martin's Island is important for competitive examinations because it connects several subjects: World Geography, Bangladesh–Myanmar relations, UNCLOS, maritime boundaries, ITLOS, the Bay of Bengal, marine biodiversity and environmental conservation.
Students should particularly avoid repeating the claim that a “1974 treaty established Bangladesh's sovereignty” or that “ITLOS awarded Saint Martin's Island to Bangladesh in 2012.” Those descriptions do not accurately reflect the legal record.
Saint Martin's → Bangladesh
Local Name → Narikel Jinjira
Sea → Bay of Bengal
Neighbour → Myanmar
1974 → Agreed Minutes
2012 → ITLOS Judgment
Territorial Sea → 12 nautical miles
2022 → Marine Protected Area
2026 → Seasonal Tourism Restrictions
Educational Disclaimer: This article is prepared for Geography, International Relations, Environment and competitive-examination revision. Maritime-law statements have been simplified for students while preserving the essential findings of the 2012 ITLOS judgment. Current tourism rules are stated as verified on 14 August 2026 and may change in future seasons.
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