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The Print
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Yunus changes tack on India's Northeast, calls for ‘plan for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan & Seven Sisters'
'We are the only guardian of the ocean,' he had said at the time, inviting Chinese investment to Bangladesh, pitching it as a gateway to the region. He went further, suggesting that this geographical placement offered a 'huge possibility' for China and also asserted that the region could become 'an extension of the Chinese economy'. He made the comments Monday during a meeting with Indira Rana, Deputy Speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives, currently in Dhaka to attend an event hosted by the Embassy of Nepal. 'There should be an integrated economic plan for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Seven Sisters. We have more to gain together than apart,' Yunus was quoted as saying. This marks a notable shift from his earlier remarks in March during a visit to Beijing, where he described India's Northeast as 'landlocked'. New Delhi: Following an earlier statement labelling India's Northeast as isolated and 'landlocked' in his investment pitch to China, Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus appears to have now changed tack—calling for a unified cross-border economic integration plan involving Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the 'Seven Sisters' states in India. 'From Bangladesh, you can go anywhere you want. The ocean is our backyard,' Yunus declared. Now, the chief adviser to the interim government in Dhaka is positioning the same geographical region as a potential corridor of shared prosperity, rooted in mutual interests and resource sharing. He further hailed the Bangladesh-Nepal-India Tripartite Power Sales Agreement, signed in October last year, as a promising model for deeper energy integration. The agreement enables the transfer of 40 MW of Nepalese hydropower to Bangladesh via India. His earlier remarks on the Northeast had drawn sharp criticism in India, given their geopolitical implications. India's Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, responded by reaffirming the strategic importance of the Northeast within regional frameworks, calling it a connectivity hub for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)—a grouping that includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Moreover, his remarks triggered outrage among Indian political leaders, particularly in the Northeast. Following this, in what was seen as a direct rebuke, India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) canceled a 2020 transshipment agreement that allowed Bangladeshi goods to move through Indian territory en route to Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. 'The transshipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at our airports and ports. Logistical delays and higher costs were hindering our own exports and creating backlogs' Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, had said at the time. Further, at the BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok in April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged Yunus with only a brief handshake and used the summit to reinforce that India's Northeast is not a peripheral outpost but a central player in BIMSTEC's future. Tensions escalated further following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, when ThePrint reported controversial comments by retired Bangladeshi Major General A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman. Rahman in a Facebook post suggested that in the event of a war between India and Pakistan, Bangladesh should seize the opportunity to capture India's Northeast with Chinese support. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: Yunus regime's ban on Hasina's Awami League 'concerning', says MEA; calls for polls in Bangladesh
Muscat Daily
11-05-2025
- Muscat Daily
Nepal embassy hold trek in Muttrah
Muscat – I've never been a morning person…the very thought of waking up before sunrise makes me cringe and withdraw. As a passionate scriptwriter, my muse flirts when stars begin to peep into my bedroom, silent and watchful from between Muscat's buildings. But inspiration, however, is a trickster; it sometimes abandons the comfort of the night and meets me again at dawn – a hike, amid the cool breeze over the bare mountains that stretch across old Muscat. And so, I found myself cradling my faithful Sony Alpha with its long (but prime lens), embarking on a hike along one of the capital's oldest routes. A path once walked by our ancestors, now a beloved trekking tail – it begins from Riyam Park, winding its way over the muscular torso of the hills and descending into the heart of Muttrah Souq in about two hours. But this was no ordinary hike, it was the Nepal-Oman Friendship Hiking Programme, held last Saturday morning at 5am, organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Muscat. A beautiful initiative to nurture friendship, wellness, and environmental awareness between the Nepali and Omani communities. Around 50 early risers – some still in slumber, some barely old enough to carry backpacks, gathered with curiosity and quiet excitement. The procession of hikers was led by Nadira al Harthy, the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest, and H E Dornath Aryal, the ambassador of Nepal to Oman. Behind them flowed a live river of embassy officials, educators, journalists, bloggers, and members of the Nepali community. After a steady ascent marked by roughly 40 stone steps, a breathtaking view of Muscat awaited, greeting both the eye and the camera lens. The sun, shyly peeking through clouds like a newlywed bride from her veil, cast a soft light on the mountains, while a tender May breeze stirred the silence. A chorus of sounds – unknown birds, insects, and the whispering wind slipping through the valleys – added to the mystique. I had an urge to cry out loud, to hear my voice echo through the grandfather olf contours, but something within stopped me. It felt almost outrageous to disturb slumbering spirits resting in the folds of the earth. As I watched Nadira, I saw not just a mountaineer but a woman deeply rooted in the terrain. Every step she took, every gesture she made, every move she made felt like a conversation with the age-old rocks, the dried-up streams and the dusty trees. She spoke gently, but with the authority of someone who had long befriended the silence of mountains. She was not conquering a mountain, she was listening to it. Guiding children, men and women, she reminded us what leadership looks like – full of presence, poise and respect. At one point, the rocks beneath my feet grew slippery, making me unsteady. I instinctively packed away my camera, choosing instead to stay grounded. A strange calmness descended over me – one that was unusual for my nature , especially for a mind usually buzzing with overlapping thoughts and cinematic distractions. For once, there was no urge to perfect the aperture or frame a 32-megapixel masterpiece. The mountain didn't demand to be photographed – it wanted to be witnessed. I wandered my eyes around and caught sight of faint carvings etched into the rocks. I couldn't tell if they were ancient love notes from a long-forgotten caveman or simply the erosion of time, but they spoke of stories untold. The barren rocks, stripped of vegetation, made all 45 of us feel like mere specks in a grand, eternal landscape. H E Aryal eloquently remarked that just as art has the power to unite people across boundaries, so does nature. 'Hiking brings multiple benefits – not only is it excellent for physical and mental well-being, it also reflects our love and respect for nature,' he said. As part of the event's environmental awareness initiative, participants actively engaged in collecting plastic bottles and other litter along the trail. This simple act, he noted, reinforced the importance of ecological responsibility, echoing a sense of reverence for the natural world. He further highlighted the captivating beauty of Oman that unfolded along the route – the colourful rock formations, glistening water streams nestled in crevices, and the presence of resilient plant life that thrived among the dry wadis. The scenic trail, enjoyed by all, offers truly spectacular views of Oman's rugged charm. Since the path largely faces north, it remains ideal for hiking both in the early morning and the evening. Along the route, we passed signs of life that once was – a small village with broken stone walls, forgotten steps and trees, now stripped by time. Perhaps this was once a family's home, a resting point for those who moved between the city and the sea. I searched for the elusive mountain foxes, their holes visible in corners of the path, but none dared to greet us. Their absence made the trail more mysterious but tension free, too. The trail is carefully marked by the government, making it a comfortable journey for hikers. Emergency measures, including ambulance support, were thoughtfully arranged by the Embassy of Nepal in coordination with Oman's Foreign Ministry, ensuring safety in the wilderness. Towards the end, when exhaustion began to set in and the sun had climbed high, we descended into Muttrah Souq, carrying grey dust on our boots, salty beads of sweat on our foreheads, and stillness in our minds. The trail, the hills, the morning…these are stories older than any film script I might write. And even the stars that visit my window each night might be the very same ones that hide behind old Muscat's stony hills, luring me to come back more often.
