Muhammad Yunus Stirs Debate with Northeast India Remarks in China

Bangladesh’s interim government adviser Muhammad Yunus has ignited controversy with comments made during a four-day visit to Beijing, where he urged China to extend its economic presence in the region by leveraging Bangladesh’s strategic position. Speaking at a high-level roundtable on March 28, Yunus described India’s seven northeastern states, known as the Seven Sisters, as “completely landlocked,” positioning Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” for the region. He suggested this could be a “huge possibility” for China, stating, “This could become an extension of the Chinese economy—build things, market them, take them back to China, or export to the rest of the world.”

The remarks drew sharp criticism in India, with Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, questioning their intent on social media platform X. “China is welcome to invest in Bangladesh, but what exactly is the significance of 7 Indian states being landlocked?” Sanyal asked, reflecting broader concerns about Yunus’s pitch. During the visit, Yunus secured $400 million from China for modernizing Mongla Port, $350 million for expanding the China Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram, and $150 million in technical assistance, alongside agreements on river water management, including the Teesta River, previously a point of cooperation with India under Sheikh Hasina’s government.

Yunus’s comments, coupled with Bangladesh’s growing ties with Beijing, have raised alarms about China’s expanding influence in South Asia, particularly near India’s sensitive Northeast, connected to the mainland via the narrow Siliguri Corridor. While Yunus has requested a meeting with Modi at the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, India has yet to confirm, signaling strained ties as Dhaka navigates its new geopolitical alignment.