'Offensive And Condemnable': Assam CM Hits Out At Bangladesh’s ‘Landlocked Northeast’ Claim

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly condemned the remarks made by Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government.

CM Sarma's backlash comes in response to Yunus' contentious statement where he claimed that Bangladesh is the “only guardian” of the Indian Ocean for the seven northeastern states of India, which are “landlocked.”

Yunus said this during his four-day visit to China, and this controversial statement was labelled as “offensive and strongly condemnable” by the Assam CM.

CM Sarma highlighted serious concerns over the security risks arising from the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor, a narrow strip of land that links the northeastern region of India with the rest of the country.

Expressing his discontent on social media, the Assam CM criticized Muhammad Yunus' stance by saying that his statement undermines the strategic importance of the region.

He also referred to the earlier suggestions within India to cut-off this crucial passage, which will likely be detrimental as the connectivity between the northeast and the mainland will be snapped, thereby potentially isolating the region.

''The statement referring to the seven sister states of Northeast India as landlocked and positioning Bangladesh as their guardian of ocean access, is offensive and strongly condemnable," CM Sarma said.

"This remark underscores the persistent vulnerability narrative associated with India’s strategic “Chicken’s Neck” corridor," he added.

Furthermore, the Assam CM emphasized the significance of developing robust railway and road networks both underneath and around the Chicken’s Neck corridor. He also proposed the exploration of alternative routes connecting the northeast to the mainland by bypassing the corridor.

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