Concerns grow as Myanmar drones breach Bangladesh airspace over St Martin’s island

Narinjara News, 4 April 2026

The residents of St Martin’s island (known locally in Rakhine as Coconut Island) ) expressed serious concern over a series of drone-sighting incidents coming from the Myanmar border.

Two drones emitting red and green lights were spotted hovering near the island's eastern jetty at around 7 pm on Thursday. Those remained in the area for nearly one hour, said a local resident.

Faizul Islam, president of St Martin’s island union, confirmed that the sightings sparked anxiety among the locals.

"Two drones were observed flying east of the jetty during the night hours. We believe these originated from Myanmar and are being used for surveillance by the Arakan Army (AA)," he added.

Mohammed Azin, a local fisherman, noted that a large group of residents gathered to watch the drones before notifying the authorities.

While many Bangladeshi locals suspect the drones belong to the AA, Narinjara is yet to independently verify the information.

The incident highlights growing fears regarding the violation of Bangladesh airspace and overall regional security and stability, stated a Bangladeshi media report.

Community leaders are now calling on the government to investigate the incursions immediately and take initiatives to strengthen the surveillance along the maritime border.