Bangladesh Leader Mohd Yunus Remarks On North East India from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

BANGLADESH LEADER MOHD YUNUS REMARKS ON NORTH EAST INDIA

Background:

• Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh, sparked a diplomatic controversy with remarks made during his four-day visit to China from March 26 to 29, 2025. These comments, about India's northeastern states, have led to a heated political debate and significant backlash in India.
• His statements come at a time when India-Bangladesh relations are already strained, especially as China has been increasingly making overtures to Bangladesh, complicating India's diplomatic landscape in the region.

WHAT DID YOUNUS SAY?

• On Northeast India’s Geography: Yunus described the seven northeastern states of India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Tripura), collectively known as the "Seven Sisters", as "landlocked", stating they have “no way to reach out to the ocean”.
• Bangladesh as a Strategic Gateway: He further declared that Bangladesh is the “only guardian of the ocean” for this region.
• He suggested that Bangladesh could serve as an economic link for Northeast India to the wider world, especially by facilitating trade between China and the rest of the globe.
• China’s Economic Interests: Yunus added that Bangladesh could potentially act as an extension of the Chinese economy, offering opportunities to build, produce, and market goods, which would be exported to China and beyond.

HOW DID INDIA RESPOND? Yunus' comments have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, particularly from political leaders in Northeast India.

• Leaders from Northeast India:
  • Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, strongly condemned Yunus’ remarks.
  • Sarma deemed them “offensive” and noted that such comments play into the vulnerability narrative of India’s "Chicken’s Neck" corridor – the narrow land strip (22 km wide) that connects the Northeast to the rest of India.
  • He also stressed the need for improving infrastructure in the region, including the development of robust railway and road networks to strengthen India’s connectivity.
  • He suggested that the Chicken’s Neck vulnerability could be mitigated by exploring alternative road routes, bypassing Bangladesh entirely, which would lessen India’s dependence on the corridor.

NATIONAL POLITICAL REACTIONS

• Pawan Khera, a Congress leader, criticized the Indian government's foreign policy, accusing Bangladesh of aligning with China to encircle India, especially with regard to the Northeast.
• He warned that Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh were already at risk, pointing out that China has been establishing villages in Arunachal.
• Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress MP from Assam, also raised concerns. He pointed out the contradiction between the "strong ties" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized in his communications with Bangladesh and Yunus' recent remarks, which were viewed as undermining India’s territorial integrity.
• N Biren Singh, the former Chief Minister of Manipur, also condemned Yunus’ comments, accusing Bangladesh of trying to use Northeast India as a strategic pawn in its geopolitical maneuvering, especially with China's involvement. Singh reiterated that India's unity and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

WHY ARE YUNUS’ REMARKS PROBLEMATIC FOR INDIA?

• The "Chicken's Neck" Corridor:
  • The Siliguri Corridor, also called the Chicken's Neck, is the only land link between India’s northeastern states and the rest of the country.
  • It is strategically critical as it is the narrow strip of land (about 22 km wide) connecting India with Bangladesh and providing access to the Northeast.
  • Any disruption in the Chicken’s Neck would sever the Northeast's connection with the rest of India, effectively isolating the region.
  • This geographic vulnerability is a long-standing concern for India, as it could be used to disrupt vital supplies, trade, and troop movement.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

• The Northeast is not just important from an internal connectivity perspective; it also holds geopolitical value in India’s relations with neighboring countries like China, Bhutan, and Nepal.
• With China's increasing presence in South Asia, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the growing closeness between Bangladesh and China is seen as a strategic concern for India.
• Yunus’ comments may be viewed as Bangladesh positioning itself as a potential geopolitical ally of China, which could pose challenges to India's strategic positioning in the region.

ECONOMIC & TRADE IMPLICATIONS

• Yunus implied that Bangladesh could serve as a link for regional trade, facilitating access to the sea for China, which is a crucial aspect of China’s broader economic ambitions in the region.
• This shift in Bangladesh’s position could have far-reaching consequences for India’s economic ties with Bangladesh, particularly in terms of trade routes and logistics.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

• Recent Tensions: India and Bangladesh have had a complicated diplomatic history, with cooperation in areas like trade, counterterrorism, and regional stability being somewhat offset by concerns over issues like border security and water-sharing
• China's Influence in Bangladesh: The growing ties between Bangladesh and China have raised alarms in India.
• China’s increasing influence in Bangladesh, especially its economic and infrastructure projects, are perceived as a potential challenge to India’s regional dominance.

  Note: Connect with Vajirao & Reddy Institute to keep yourself updated with latest UPSC Current Affairs in English. Note: We upload Current Affairs Except Sunday.