Muhammad Yunus, a former senior adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, invoked India’s northeastern region — often referred to as the “Seven Sisters” — in his farewell speech, a day before the new government was due to take office. Muhammad Yunus resigned on Monday in a farewell broadcast to the nation before handing over to the elected government.
In his speech, Muhammad Yunus emphasized that Bangladesh’s access to the sea is not only a geographical matter but also a gateway to trade and economic engagement in the global market.
Muhammad Yunus proposed a sub-regional economic framework to link Bangladesh’s maritime access with Nepal, Bhutan and the “Seven Sisters”, notably without mentioning India.
This is likely to ruffle feathers in New Delhi, especially given already strained ties with Bangladesh.
Muhammad Yunus said: “Our open sea is not only a geographical border, but also an open door to join the world economy for Bangladesh. This region, along with Nepal, Bhutan and the Seven Sisters, has great economic potential.”
Top intelligence sources told News18 that Yunus’ omission of India while referring to the “Seven Sisters” is a “deliberate strategic message” aimed at reshaping the global perception of India’s northeast.
Earlier in December 2025, Hasnat Abdullah, the leader of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP), threatened to isolate India’s northeastern region and suggested harboring separatist groups if Bangladesh was destabilized, prompting the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to summon the Bangladesh High Commissioner to express concerns.
Hasnat Abdullah said: “We will harbor separatist and anti-Indian forces and then separate the seven sisters from India. I want to let India know that if you give shelter to forces that do not respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, potential, electoral rights and human rights, Bangladesh will respond.”
What Muhammad Yunus said in his address
In his speech, Muhammad Yunus said: “Today the interim government is stepping down. But let the practice of democracy, freedom of speech and fundamental rights that has begun not be stopped.”
The 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate returned from self-imposed exile in August 2024, just days after Sheikh Hasina’s government was toppled by a student-led uprising, and fled by helicopter to India.
Read also | Power-hungry traitor: Sheikh Hasina attacks Yunus ahead of Bangladesh electionsRead also | Sheikh Hasina calls Bangladesh election a ‘well-planned farce’, seeks new polls
Referring to the day Sheikh Hasina fled to India, Muhammad Yunus said, “That was a day of great liberation. What a day of joy! Bangladeshis all over the world shed tears of happiness. The youth of our country has freed her from the clutches of a demon.”
Yunus has since led Bangladesh as his “chief adviser” and is now handing over power after congratulating the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leader Tarique Rahman on their “overwhelming victory” in last week’s election.
“The people, voters, political parties and interested institutions associated with the election have set a commendable example,” Yunus said, adding, “This election has set the benchmark for future elections.”
Tarique Rahman, 60, the BNP chief and scion of one of the country’s most powerful political dynasties, will lead the South Asian nation of 170 million people. He was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, February 17.