The tiny island, which was about 3.5 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide, was claimed by both Bangladesh and India.

It had been a bone of contention between the two countries since the 1970s.

Sugata Hazra from the School of Oceanographic Studies at Kolkata's Jadavpur University from the School of Oceanographic Studies said that "global warming and erosion were responsible for solving this point in the sometimes fractious relations between Bangladesh and India."

Created by a cyclone, sunk by climage change

The original source of the dispute in the Sundarbans mangrove delta is thought to have been created by a cyclone only about 40 years ago.

The Indian navy planted its national flag there in 1981 but there was never any permanent settlement despite years of negotiations.

Hazra said that he believed the island had vanished in 1990. He added that Lohachara, a larger island in the Bay of Bengal had also disappeared in 1996, shortly after its 4,000 inhabitants fled.

Five other islands at risk

At least five other islands in the region that is known for being the habitat of the endangered Bengal tiger were also in danger of being submerged because of rising sea levels and increasing rainfall, Hazra said.

Some scientists predict that 20 million Bangladeshis will be displaced over the next four decades because of climate change.

act / dpa / Reuters
Editor: Thomas Baerthlein