Former Bangladeshi Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman made a shocking statement recently. He suggested that if India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should take action by invading the seven northeastern states of India. This idea came after a terrible terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people lost their lives.
Rahman, who used to lead the Bangladesh Rifles and is close to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, expressed his thoughts on Facebook. He believes Bangladesh should work with China to make this idea happen.
His comments come at a tricky time when Bangladesh and India are trying to improve their relationship, which has been strained since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India. India has also raised concerns about attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
Things got tense further when Muhammad Yunus, during his March trip to China, talked about India’s northeastern states. He called these states “the seven sisters” and said they are landlocked and cut off from the ocean. He mentioned that Bangladesh could be the “only guardian of the ocean” and that this could create opportunities for China’s economy.
Leaders from India’s ruling party, the BJP, did not take kindly to Yunus’s comments. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded during a recent meeting of BIMSTEC, highlighting that India’s northeastern region is developing as a key area for connections, including roads and railways.
Shortly after Yunus’s remarks, India ended a five-year agreement that allowed Bangladeshi goods to pass through its airports and ports to other countries, mainly due to cargo congestion.
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