Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus Urges Greater Chinese Investment, Sparks Row Over Remarks on India’s Northeast

Dhaka-Beijing Ties Deepen as $2.1 Billion in Deals Signed; Remarks on India's Northeastern States Stir Controversy​

Dhaka, March 31 – Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has called on China to expand its economic footprint in Bangladesh, describing his country as a strategic maritime gateway for landlocked northeastern India—a remark that has triggered criticism and raised diplomatic eyebrows.

Yunus made the comments during his recent four-day visit to China, which included high-profile meetings, including one with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the trip, nine bilateral agreements were signed, and Bangladesh secured a total of $2.1 billion in investments, loans, and grants from the Chinese government and companies.

"Guardian of the Ocean": Yunus Highlights Bangladesh’s Strategic Position​

Speaking during the visit, Yunus underscored Bangladesh’s coastal access as a unique regional advantage. He noted that India’s northeastern “Seven Sisters” states are landlocked, suggesting that Bangladesh could serve as their maritime conduit and act as an economic extension of China.

“The seven states of India, the eastern part of India, are called the seven sisters. They are a landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean,” Yunus said. “Bangladesh is the only guardian of the ocean in the region. This could be a huge opportunity and could be an extension of the Chinese economy.”

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His remarks, which emerged on social media Monday, were met with criticism. Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, questioned the rationale behind invoking India’s internal geography in an appeal to China.

“Interesting that Yunus is making a public appeal to the Chinese on the basis that 7 states in India are land-locked… what exactly is the significance of 7 Indian states being landlocked?” Sanyal posted on X (formerly Twitter).

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Strategic Significance and Symbolic Gestures​

Yunus’s visit also included symbolic gestures of diplomacy and cooperation. He delivered a lecture at Peking University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate, and addressed the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan.

In a joint statement, Bangladesh welcomed Chinese firms to engage in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP). Yunus also urged China to play a “greater role” in ensuring regional peace and stability, referencing recent student-led regime changes in Dhaka.

“It’s very important that we see China as our good friend,” Yunus said before concluding his visit. He portrayed Beijing as a balancing force in Bangladesh’s foreign relations.

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New Chapter in China-Bangladesh Relations​

The nine signed agreements mark a significant step in bilateral cooperation, reinforcing China’s growing influence in South Asia and highlighting Bangladesh’s strategic importance in the region.

As Dhaka deepens ties with Beijing, Yunus’s comments are likely to continue drawing scrutiny, particularly in the context of sensitive geopolitical dynamics involving neighboring India.