"India’s northeast not dependent on Bangladesh for ocean access", says defence expert

Defence expert Dhruv Katoch has strongly criticized Bangladesh’s interim chief Muhammad Yunus for his recent statement suggesting that the seven northeastern states of India are landlocked and that Bangladesh serves as their sole maritime gateway.

Reacting to Yunus’ remarks, Katoch stated that India does not depend on Bangladesh for access to the ocean and that connectivity issues concerning the northeast are India’s internal matter, managed effectively by the Indian government.

“He had no business to mention India in this context. Our connectivity to the ocean is our own concern, and we are handling it efficiently. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project is also nearing completion, further enhancing our access,” said Katoch.

Expressing concerns over Yunus’ comments made in China, Katoch suggested that the statement was an attempt to send a strategic message to both India and China. He noted that Bangladesh might be positioning itself as a key corridor for China’s potential influence in the region, offering connectivity to Nepal and Bhutan through India’s northeastern states.

“Bringing India into this conversation is both unnecessary and provocative. Is he subtly hinting at cutting off India’s northeast? India is too big a country to be threatened by such statements, and Bangladesh remains strategically irrelevant in this context,” he added.

Amid these developments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC summit, a meeting reportedly requested by the Bangladeshi leader.