Overview

• Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus referred to India's northeastern states as 'landlocked' and described Bangladesh as their 'guardian of the ocean,' during his recent visit to China.
• Indian leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, condemned the remarks as 'offensive' and called for alternative connectivity routes to bypass the vulnerable Chicken's Neck corridor.
• Yunus' comments coincide with Bangladesh's deepening ties with China, including securing $2.1 billion in investments and loans, further straining India-Bangladesh relations.
• The strategic Chicken's Neck corridor, critical for connecting India's northeast to the mainland, has become a focal point of geopolitical concern in light of Yunus' statements.
• The interim government's continued alignment with China and lack of a clear election timeline have raised questions about its legitimacy and long-term implications for regional stability.