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The recent comments and decisions of the interim government of Bangladesh have caused a great concern in India, including Yunus’s statement about the Siliguri corridor and his meeting with the Chinese president.
The recent comments and decisions of the interim government have caused an important group in India, including Yunus’s declaration on the Siliguri corridor and its meeting with the Chinese president. (Reuters)
The interim government of Bangladesh, economist and Nobel Muhammad Yunus, has significantly altered the dynamics of the country’s relations with India. The comments of the neighboring country about community violence in the Murshidabad district of Western Bengal have further complicated the relationship. Nueva Delhi has strongly rejected the comments and asked Dhaka to address the persecution of minorities within his own borders.
The recent comments and decisions of the interim government have caused an important group in India, including Yunus’s declaration on the Siliguri corridor and its meeting with the Chinese president.
The elimination of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, perhaps, was a great setback since Dhaka, under the prime minister expelled, managed to skillfully balance his ties between New Delhi and Beijing. This is no longer the case.
The foreign and economic policies of the interim government align more closely with China last month. This occurred after Yunus’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The movement tense Bangladesh’s ties with India and intensified New Delhi’s concerns regarding its neighboring regions.
As expected, Yunus’s first state visit to Beijing from March 26 to 29 pointed out that Dhaka’s foreign policy beams to China under the interim government.
In addition, the complicated thing was Yunus’s comment that the northwest of India is without coastline, and Bangladesh is the “only ocean guard for this entire region.”
Bangladesh approaches China. Why is you worried about India?
The statement led to India to increase security preparation in the Siliguri corridor. In accordance with a report in MathrubhumiNueva Delhi has not only placed the powerful S-400 air defense system in the Siliguri region to deal with the growing threats, but also sending advanced Rafale combat airplanes to the hashimara air base.
The Siliguri corridor, often called as the ‘chicken neck’, is a narrow stretch of land in western Bengal, the only land in India joins its eight United States-Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal, Assam. It is interspersed between Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bután and China just a few kilometers away. This critical strangulation point with only 22 km wide at its closest point has the strategic vulnerability of India.
All lands trade between the northeast and the rest of the country travels through the Siliguri corridor. There is only one railway line to transport load through the Siliguri corridor.
For many years, the Siliguri corridor has been seen as a weak point in the defense configuration of India. After the 1962 war, military experts have often warned that if an enemy, special for China, carries out a well -planned attack, would cut the northeastern states of India from the rest of the country in just a few hours.
Here are other times when it happens in Bangladesh affected India
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Residence Vandaled: On February 5, protesters in Dhaka Vandodic Residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, located in 32 Dhanmondi. The attack coincided with a virtual direction of his daughter, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, of his exile in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the law and said: “It is unfortunate that the historical residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh, against the forces of occupation and oppression, was a path on the way along the way along the way along the way along the way along the way by 33 studying.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Miskri emphasized the government’s responsibility to protect these sites. “The security of diplomatic facilities is the responsibility of the host government, and I have no doubt that Bangladesh’s authorities are fully aware of their responsibilities in this regard,” he said.
The reaction was not good with the government led by Yunus, which called India’s comments about the “unexpected and unjustified” incident. They attributed violence to the “provocative statements” of Hasina from India.
• Controversial publication of Yunus’s social networks last year: Mahfuz Alam, a student leader and special assistant from Muhammad Yunus, shared a Facebook publication now eliminated on Bangladesh Victory Day (December 16, 2024). The publication included a provocative map that represented the Indian territories (Western Bengal, Assam and Tripura, as part of Bangladesh and accused India of policies aimed at “containing” and “Ghettoizing” Bangladesh.
India ‘protested strongly’ on the subject. Mea’s spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said: “We have registered our strong protest on this subject with the Bangladesh side. We understand that the post referred to has fallen.
• Violence against Hindu minorities: After divis political legislation in Bangladesh, there were reports of specific violence against Hindu minorities, including attacks on temples and properties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed the group, stating: “We expect an early return to normal, ensuring the security and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities.”
The Foreign Secretary, Vikram Miskri, also visited Dhaka in December last year and transmitted the Conerns de la India with respect to the security and welfare of minorities. He emphasized the need for a constructive approach to guarantee its protection.
• Sheikh Hasina’s extradition request: After his expulsion, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India. Bangladesh’s interim government requested its extradition to face charges related to the duration of disturbances in its mandate.
India, however, has not complied with the extradition request, citing diplomatic sensibilities. This decision has contributed to the growing “anti-india feeling” in Bangladesh. Duration A meeting at the BimStec summit in April 2025, Prime Minister Modi urged Yunus to avoid divisive rhetoric that could even more tense bilateral ties.
