New Delhi: The recent visit of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to China has ignited a diplomatic firestorm after he described India’s Northeast as “landlocked” and positioned Bangladesh as the “guardian of ocean access” for the region. This provocative statement has drawn sharp rebukes from Indian leaders, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who highlighted India’s pivotal role in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Muhammad Yunus, during his China visit, accentuated the strategic potential of Bangladesh’s maritime access for India’s Northeast. This, coupled with his encouragement for China to extend its economic influence in Bangladesh, has raised concerns about geopolitical alignments in the region. Bangladesh’s status as a gateway for the Northeast to the ocean, particularly through the Chittagong Port, has been a significant factor in regional trade dynamics, especially given India’s historical reliance on these ports for logistical purposes.
S Jaishankar swiftly responded by emphasizing India’s strategic importance in BIMSTEC, noting its extensive coastline of almost 6,500 km and its crucial connectivity role for several member states. He stressed that cooperation in the region should be comprehensive rather than selectively cherry-picked. This stance underscores India’s commitment to regional integration while countering Yunus’s perspective that Bangladesh alone can serve as a maritime gateway for the Northeast.
The controversy has also seen condemnation from regional leaders like Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who termed Yunus’s remarks as “offensive” and “strongly condemnable.” Sarma highlighted the strategic vulnerability of the “Chicken’s Neck” corridor, emphasizing the need for stronger infrastructure links to maintain connectivity between the Northeast and the rest of India. Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh further criticized Yunus, accusing Bangladesh’s interim government of treating India’s Northeast as a “strategic pawn.”
During his visit to China, Yunus sealed multiple agreements for economic cooperation with Beijing, including a $2.1 billion financial package. He also met with President Xi Jinping, urging greater Chinese involvement in Bangladesh’s development. This development has heightened tensions in the region, as India perceives Bangladesh’s growing alignment with China as a strategic challenge.
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