Web Desk: Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus resigned following the country’s general elections, after Khaleda Zia’s son assumed office as the new prime minister.
In his farewell speech, Yunus made comments that have drawn attention in India, particularly regarding the country’s northeastern region known as the “Seven Sisters.”
According to international media reports, Yunus described Bangladesh’s coastline not only as a national border but also as a gateway connecting the region to the global economy. He highlighted Nepal, Bhutan and the “Seven Sisters” as areas with significant economic potential.
Although Yunus did not directly name India, his reference to the Seven Sisters — a term used for India’s northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura — has triggered concern in New Delhi.
The Seven Sisters are geographically separated from mainland India and connected through the narrow Siliguri Corridor, a roughly 22-kilometre-wide strip of land often referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck,” making the region strategically sensitive. The corridor lies close to the borders of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and China, further heightening its geopolitical importance.
Indian analysts have interpreted Yunus’s remarks as an attempt to portray the Seven Sisters as a distinct geographic and economic entity separate from India. Yunus has previously described the region as landlocked and suggested that Bangladesh offers its only maritime access.
Similar comments were made during his visit to China last year, when he said India’s northeastern states lacked direct sea connectivity and described Bangladesh as a key gateway for economic opportunities in the region. His statements were criticised in India as provocative.
The geopolitical stakes are high, particularly as China claims India’s Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet,” adding to regional tensions. Bangladesh shares more than 4,300 kilometres of border with India, accounting for approximately 94% of its total land borders.
India has long sought access to Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port to improve connectivity for its northeastern states, but the issue remains politically sensitive in Bangladesh, where successive governments, political parties and civil society groups have raised strong reservations.
