Muhammad Yunus, an adviser to Bangladesh‘s interim government, has stirred controversy following a veiled remark that seemingly threatens India’s northeastern states while appealing to China for support. During a recent four-day visit to Beijing, Yunus suggested that China should “extend” its influence into India’s seven northeastern states, which he described as landlocked by Bangladesh. The comments, made in a video that later surfaced on social media, were perceived as a thinly veiled jab at India, urging China to establish a presence in Bangladesh, potentially stifling India’s access to the region.

In the video, Yunus claimed, “The seven states of India, in the eastern part of India, called the seven sister states, are completely landlocked. They have no way to reach the ocean. We (Bangladesh) are the only guardian of the ocean for the entire region.” He further suggested that this presented a significant opportunity for China to expand its economic footprint in the region.

The remarks have drawn criticism, with experts, including Sanjeev Sanyal from PM Modi’s economic advisory council, questioning the logic behind Yunus’s appeal. “What exactly is the significance of 7 Indian states being landlocked?” Sanyal wrote on social media.

During his trip, Yunus also discussed maritime cooperation with Chinese officials, leading to agreements for Chinese companies to aid in modernizing Bangladesh’s Mongla Port and expanding the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram. Additionally, Yunus sought China’s help in managing Bangladesh’s river systems, including the Teesta River, which India shares with Bangladesh, highlighting the growing ties between Dhaka and Beijing.

#Bangladesh #India #ChinaRelations #NortheasternStates