Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim government Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, recently concluded a four-day visit to China. A video of his remarks on India&rsquo;s northeastern states, reportedly made during the trip, has surfaced on social media, drawing sharp reactions in India.
In the video, Yunus refers to the &ldquo;landlocked &lsquo;Seven Sisters&rsquo; states&rdquo; as an &ldquo;opportunity,&rdquo; a statement that has sparked controversy. Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh strongly criticized Yunus, urging him to exercise restraint.
&ldquo;It is apparent that Muhammad Yunus and his interim government in Bangladesh are attempting to frame the Northeast as a strategic pawn to serve their geopolitical ambitions,&rdquo; Singh wrote on X. He condemned the remarks, calling them provocative and irresponsible.
&ldquo;I condemn his remarks in the strongest possible terms. Let it be absolutely clear&mdash;India&rsquo;s unity and territorial integrity are non-negotiable and cannot be challenged by anyone. Muhammad Yunus must exercise restraint. Making reckless comments about a nation like India is not only unwise but could also lead to consequences he may come to regret,&rdquo; he asserted.
During his visit, Yunus reportedly emphasized that Bangladesh is the &ldquo;only guardian of the ocean&rdquo; in the region and urged China to expand its economic influence in his country. He suggested that India&rsquo;s northeastern states, lacking direct access to the sea, could serve as an extension of the Chinese economy, with Bangladesh acting as a gateway.
His comments have drawn strong reactions from Indian political leaders. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called Yunus&rsquo;s statement &ldquo;offensive&rdquo; and &ldquo;condemnable.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The statement made by Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh&rsquo;s so-called interim government, referring to the &lsquo;Seven Sisters&rsquo; as landlocked and positioning Bangladesh as their guardian of ocean access, is offensive and strongly condemnable,&rdquo; Sarma wrote on X.
He further pointed out that Yunus&rsquo;s remarks highlight the strategic vulnerability of India&rsquo;s &lsquo;Chicken&rsquo;s Neck&rsquo; corridor, a narrow strip of land connecting the Northeast to the rest of the country.
&ldquo;Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested compromising this critical passageway to physically isolate the Northeast from the mainland. It is imperative to develop more robust railway and road networks both underneath and around the &lsquo;Chicken&rsquo;s Neck&rsquo; corridor,&rdquo; Sarma added.
He also stressed the need for alternative road routes that bypass the corridor, acknowledging the engineering challenges but emphasizing that they are achievable with determination and innovation.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera also condemned Dhaka&rsquo;s approach, calling it a dangerous move for the Northeast.
&ldquo;Bangladesh is inviting China to encircle India. This attitude of the Bangladesh government is very dangerous for the security of our Northeast region. The government is not taking care of Manipur, and China has already settled villages in Arunachal,&rdquo; he wrote on X.
He also criticized India&rsquo;s foreign policy, stating, &ldquo;Our foreign policy is in such a pathetic state that the very country India helped create is now engaged in rallying against us.&rdquo;
The controversy surrounding Muhammad Yunus&rsquo;s remarks highlights the growing geopolitical tensions in South Asia. As India strengthens its strategic infrastructure in the Northeast, such statements from Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim leadership add to the complexities of regional diplomacy. 
While Indian leaders across party lines have condemned Yunus&rsquo;s comments, the episode underscores the importance of maintaining a strong and proactive foreign policy to safeguard national security and territorial integrity.
(with inputs from IANS)
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Screengrab of Yunus talking about India’s Northeastern states

B’desh chief advisor calls the ‘Seven Sisters’ an ‘opportunity’, draws strong criticism from Indian leaders

Yunus Sparks Row with Remarks on India’s Northeast

B’desh chief advisor calls the ‘Seven Sisters’ an ‘opportunity’, draws strong criticism from Indian leaders

April 1, 2025 | 20:12 IST