Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim government adviser, has sparked controversy with a veiled remark aimed at New Delhi, while making an appeal to China to “expand” its influence in India’s northeastern states. During a four-day visit to Beijing last week, Yunus suggested that China could extend its presence in the region, pointing out that India’s seven northeastern states are “landlocked” by Bangladesh to the west.
The provocative comment, which defense analysts have deemed inappropriate, surfaced on social media after Yunus returned to Bangladesh. In a video, he is seen encouraging the Chinese government to “extend” its reach by establishing a base in Bangladesh, potentially affecting India’s northeastern states, which are geographically isolated.
Yunus remarked, “The seven sister states of India, located in the eastern part of the country, are completely landlocked. They have no direct access to the ocean. We (Bangladesh) are the only gateway to the ocean for the entire northeastern region of India.” He further suggested that this presents a significant opportunity for China, claiming that it could serve as an extension of the Chinese economy, allowing China to build infrastructure, market products, and export goods globally.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of PM Modi’s economic advisory council, expressed strong disapproval of Yunus’ comments and shared the video on the social media platform X. “Interesting that Yunus is making a public appeal to the Chinese on the basis that 7 states in India are land-locked. China is welcome to invest in Bangladesh, but what exactly is the significance of 7 Indian states being landlocked?” Sanyal wrote.
