The Minister of the External Affairs (EAM) Jaishankar strongly faced the Bangladeshi main advisor Muhammad Yunus over his remark “northeast inland” and “Bangladesh only ocean guard” during his visit to China and said that “cooperation is not about the choice of cherry”.
In his statement, Jaishankar said, “Finally, we have the longest coast in the Gulf of Bengal, almost 6,500 km. India shares the borders not only with five Bimstek members, connects most of them, but also provides most of the interface between Indian subcontinent and ASEAN.
EAM said that countries should cooperate on all important issues rather than choosing only those that suit their interests.
“We are aware that our cooperation and facilitating are a prerequisite for the smooth flow of goods, services and people in this greater geography. With regard to this geo-strategic factor, we have paid increasing energy and attention to strengthening Bimstec in the last decades,” he said.
“We also believe that cooperation is an integrated outlook, not subject to the selection of cherry.” Also read | Bangladesh responds to Jaishance’s ‘make up your mind’ comment: “Our minority problem is not a fear of India”
What did Yunus say?
During his visit to China, Muhammad Yunus called on Beijing to expand his economic influence on Bangladesh and controversially mention the northeastern states of the neighbor in India. He said: “Seven Indian states, eastern part of India, are called seven nurses. They are an inland Indian area. They have no way to reach an ocean.”
Yunus called Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” in the region and said it could be a huge opportunity and it could be an extension of the Chinese economy.
When Yunus’ notes about the northeast appeared on social media, they caused a sharp political reaction in the country.
Main Minister Assam Himanta Bisw Sarma condemned comments as “offensive” and former manipur CM Biren Singh accused Bengaldes of using the region as a strategic pawn.
(Tagstotranslate) Northeast Landlocked (T) Bangladesh Yunus (T) Bangladesh Yunus Note
