Argus News - Yunus Provokes India with ‘Seven Sisters’ Remark in Farewell Speech

New Delhi, Feb 17: Outgoing Bangladesh interim chief Muhammad Yunus once again courted controversy, and this time in his farewell speech.

The 25-minute speech laced with nationalistic rhetoric. Yunus revisited the sensitive issue of the northeast region - a recurring flashpoint during his 18-month tenure.

He argued that Bangladesh’s “open sea” could unlock vast economic opportunities for the “Seven Sisters” - referring to the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura, positioning the country as a gateway to growth for the region.

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“Bangladesh can provide huge potential for economic prosperity for the seven sister states, Nepal and Bhutan. Our open seas are not just borders, they are gateways to the global economy,” said Yunus in his farewell speech.

The reference of ‘Seven Sisters’ is likely to infuriate New Delhi, and mostly so because of the fact that he didn’t mention India. Yunus had first raised the issue during his visit to China last year without mentioning India. The omission appeared as if he is considering the India’s “landlocked” northeast region as a separate entity.

India has consistently resisted foreign interference on its territories. Despite that, Yunus, whose tenure fuelled anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, continues his provocations in an attempt to poke India’s northeast region positioning Bangladesh as an economic gateway.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s ties with China, Yunus said: “We have also deepened cooperation with China. Significant progress has been made on the Teesta River project and a 1,000-bed international hospital in Nilphamari,”

In January, the Yunus administration permitted the Chinese envoy and officials to visit a sensitive project site, disregarding India’s concerns.

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In his final remarks, Yunus declared that Bangladesh was no longer a “submissive” nation - language widely interpreted as a pointed message to India. His administration has often argued that under Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s foreign policy carried India’s imprint.

“Today’s Bangladesh is confident, active, and responsible in safeguarding its independent interests. It is no longer a country with a submissive foreign policy or reliant on the instructions and advice of other nations,” Yunus said.

Compiled by: Satabhisa Jena