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Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Ex-Bangladeshi general urges China alliance to seize India's northeast if Pakistan is attacked
Listen to article A former Bangladeshi army officer close to Chief Adviser Yunus has urged Dhaka to ally with China to seize India's northeast if New Delhi strikes Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack. A social media post by retired Bangladeshi Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman has sparked diplomatic concern in the region after he suggested that Bangladesh should consider occupying India's northeastern states if India were to launch a military strike on Pakistan. The remarks, made in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan tensions following a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's (IIOJK) Pahalgam. In his Facebook post, Rahman, who currently serves as chairman of the National Independent Commission and was appointed under the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, proposed a joint military arrangement with China to support such a maneuver. He argued that the landlocked nature of India's northeastern 'seven sisters' presented a strategic opportunity for Bangladesh in the event of conflict. Rahman's remarks followed earlier controversial comments by Chief Adviser Yunus during a visit to China in March, in which he described Bangladesh as the 'only guardian' of the Indian Ocean for the region and invited Chinese economic cooperation through Bangladeshi territory. India strongly objected to these assertions, viewing them as a challenge to its regional influence and territorial integrity. The statements triggered reactions from leaders across the Indian political spectrum, and in April, India withdrew transhipment facilities previously extended to Bangladesh, barring exceptions for landlocked Nepal and Bhutan under WTO guidelines. In response to Rahman's remarks, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a firm statement distancing itself from the retired general's views. 'The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh,' the ministry clarified. 'The government neither endorses nor supports such rhetoric in any form or manner.'
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy Northeastern States: Muhammad Yunus' aide
A former Bangladesh Army officer and close aide of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy India's northeastern States if it attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Mr. Yunus' interim government on Friday (May 2, 2025) distanced itself from the remarks made by Major General (Retd.) ALM Fazlur Rahman on his social media account. In a Facebook post on Tuesday (April 29, 2025), Fazlur wrote in Bengali, "If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy the seven States of Northeastern India. I think it is necessary to start discussions with China on a joint military arrangement in this regard," he added. Editorial | Timing and location: On Bangladesh Chief Adviser's remarks and China visit Fazlur was appointed by the Yunus-led interim government in December 2024 as the chairman of the National Independent Commission assigned to investigate the killings in the Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009. Distancing itself from the former Army officer's remarks, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a media release on Friday (May 2, 2025) said, "The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh, and as such, the government neither endorses nor supports such rhetoric in any form or manner." The government urged all concerned to refrain from associating the state with the personal views expressed by Fazlur, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. 'Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect, and the peaceful coexistence of all nations,' the Ministry said. Earlier in March, Chief Advisor Yunus, during his visit to China, had remarked that India's seven northeastern States, which share a nearly 1,600-km border with Bangladesh, are landlocked and have no way to reach the ocean except through his country. In his address at a business event in China, Mr. Yunus said Dhaka was the "only guardian" of the Indian Ocean in the region, as he invited Beijing to send goods through Bangladesh across the world. The comments did not go down well in New Delhi. It also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines. Days after Mr. Yunus' controversial remarks, India in April withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting goods to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh has been using several Indian ports and airports for its exports to West Asia, Europe, and many other countries. India has exempted Bangladeshi exports to Nepal and Bhutan, as such trade facilitation is mandatory for landlocked countries under the framework of provisions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). India-Bangladesh relation has nosedived after Mr. Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in August last year.
India.com
03-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
If India Attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh Should Occupy...: Yunus Aides Controversial Remark Amid Pahalgam Tension
In a shocking remark, a former Bangladesh army officer and close aide of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Thursday suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy India's northeastern states if New Delhi attacks Pakistan in retaliation to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people, mostly tourists, and left several others injured. On Friday, Yunus' interim government distanced itself from the remarks made by Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman on his Facebook account. In a post on the social media account, Rahman wrote in Bengali, "If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy the seven states of Northeastern India." "I think it is necessary to start discussions with China on a joint military arrangement in this regard," he said. Yunus, in December 2024, was appointed by the Yunus-led interim government as the chairman of the National Independent Commission assigned to investigate the killings in the Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009. Distancing itself from the former army officer's remarks, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a media release on Friday said, "The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh, and as such, the government neither endorses nor supports such rhetoric in any form or manner." Earlier in March, Yunus, during his visit to China, had urged Beijing to make the ocean-facing part of Bangladesh an extension of the Chinese economy. In a video that went viral on social media, Yunus urged the Chinese government to set up its economic base in the country while saying that Dhaka was the only guardian of the ocean in that region. "Seven states of India, the eastern part of India called the Seven Sisters, are landlocked countries. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardians of the ocean in this region. This opens up a huge possibility. This could be an extension of the Chinese economy – build, produce and market things, bring them back to China, and export them to the rest of the world," said Yunus. The comments did not go down well in New Delhi and drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines. Days after Yunus' controversial remarks, India in April withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting goods to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Yunus' aide: If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy Northeastern states
A former Bangladesh army officer and close aide of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy India's northeastern states if it attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Yunus' interim government on Friday distanced itself from the remarks made by Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman on his social media account. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Rahman wrote in Bengali, 'If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy the seven states of Northeastern India.' 'I think it is necessary to start discussions with China on a joint military arrangement in this regard,' he added. Rahman was appointed by the Yunus-led interim government in December 2024 as the chairman of the National Independent Commission assigned to investigate the killings in the Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009. Distancing itself from the former army officer's remarks, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a media release on Friday said, 'The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh, and as such, the government neither endorses nor supports such rhetoric in any form or manner.' The government urged all concerned to refrain from associating the state with the personal views expressed by Rahman, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect, and the peaceful coexistence of all nations, the ministry said. Earlier in March, Chief Adviser Yunus, during his visit to China, had remarked that India's seven northeastern states, which share a nearly 1,600-km border with Bangladesh, are landlocked and have no way to reach the ocean except through his country. In his address at a business event in China, Yunus said Dhaka was the 'only guardian' of the Indian Ocean in the region, as he invited Beijing to send goods through Bangladesh across the world. The comments did not go down well in New Delhi. It also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines. Days after Yunus' controversial remarks, India in April withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting goods to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh has been using several Indian ports and airports for its exports to West Asia, Europe, and many other countries. India has exempted Bangladeshi exports to Nepal and Bhutan, as such trade facilitation is mandatory for landlocked countries under the framework of provisions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). India-Bangladesh relation has nosedived after Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country after the fall of Sheikh Hasina 's Awami League government in August last year.
NDTV
02-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"If India Attacks Pak, Bangladesh Should...": Muhammad Yunus Aide On Northeast
Dhaka: A former Bangladesh army officer and close aide of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy India's northeastern states if it attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Yunus' interim government on Friday distanced itself from the remarks made by Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman on his social media account. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Rahman wrote in Bengali, "If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy the seven states of Northeastern India." "I think it is necessary to start discussions with China on a joint military arrangement in this regard," he added. Rahman was appointed by the Yunus-led interim government in December 2024 as the chairman of the National Independent Commission assigned to investigate the killings in the Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009. Distancing itself from the former army officer's remarks, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a media release on Friday said, "The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh, and as such, the government neither endorses nor supports such rhetoric in any form or manner." The government urged all concerned to refrain from associating the state with the personal views expressed by Rahman, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect, and the peaceful coexistence of all nations, the ministry said. Earlier in March, Chief Adviser Yunus, during his visit to China, had remarked that India's seven northeastern states, which share a nearly 1,600-km border with Bangladesh, are landlocked and have no way to reach the ocean except through his country. In his address at a business event in China, Yunus said Dhaka was the "only guardian" of the Indian Ocean in the region, as he invited Beijing to send goods through Bangladesh across the world. The comments did not go down well in New Delhi. It also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines. Days after Yunus' controversial remarks, India in April withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting goods to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh has been using several Indian ports and airports for its exports to West Asia, Europe, and many other countries. India has exempted Bangladeshi exports to Nepal and Bhutan, as such trade facilitation is mandatory for landlocked countries under the framework of provisions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). India-Bangladesh relation has nosedived after Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in August last year.
