Editor,
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s forthright response to Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’s remarks underscores a strategic and assertive approach to safeguarding India’s North Eastern interests.
Yunus’s characterization of India’s North East as “landlocked” and his proposition of Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” for the region, coupled with an invitation to China to establish an economic foothold, reflect a concerning narrative that undermines regional stability and India’s sovereignty.
Sarma’s highlighting of Bangladesh’s own geographical vulnerabilities – specifically, the 80km North Bangladesh Corridor and the 28km Chittagong Corridor – serves as a poignant reminder that strategic posturing can have reciprocal implications. These corridors are critical to Bangladesh’s internal connectivity and any disruption could have significant consequences. By bringing attention to these facts, Sarma emphasises the importance of mutual respect and caution in geopolitical discourse.
India’s North East, while geographically distinct, is far from isolated. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the region has witnessed substantial infrastructural development, enhanced connectivity, and increased economic integration with the rest of the country. This progress challenges the notion of the North East being “landlocked” in a limiting sense.
Yunus’s comments, particularly his overtures to China, raise questions about Bangladesh’s strategic alignments and their implications for regional dynamics. India has consistently advocated for cooperative and inclusive growth in South Asia, and any actions that threaten this equilibrium warrant careful scrutiny.
In this context, Sarma’s remarks are not merely reactive but serve as a strategic assertion of India’s commitment to protecting its territorial integrity and regional interests. They underscore the necessity for neighbouring nations to engage in constructive dialogue and collaboration, rather than rhetoric that could escalate tensions.
Ranjit Bose
Bivar Road, Shillong
