In farewell speech, Muhammad Yunus groups India’s ‘Seven Sisters’ with Nepal, Bhutan

Outgoing Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, in his farewell address ahead of handing over power to a newly elected government, invoked India’s northeastern “Seven Sisters” states alongside Nepal and Bhutan while outlining a sub-regional economic vision. The formulation, delivered in a televised speech a day before his exit, is likely to attract attention in New Delhi amid already strained ties between the two neighbours.

Declaring that Bangladesh was “no longer submissive” or guided by other nations’ directives, Yunus said his administration had restored three core pillars of foreign policy — sovereignty, national interest and dignity. “Our open sea is not only a geographical boundary, it is an open door to engage with the world economy for Bangladesh. This region along with Nepal, Bhutan and the Seven Sisters has great economic potential,” he said, referring to India’s northeastern states without naming India directly.

Yunus proposed deeper sub-regional cooperation focused on connectivity, trade agreements, economic zones and maritime access through Bangladesh. By grouping India’s northeastern states with sovereign neighbours, his remarks were seen as blurring established political distinctions, at a time when bilateral relations have been under strain over minority safety, law-and-order concerns and broader diplomatic differences.

Highlighting a strategy of strategic balance, Yunus also cited expanded engagement with China, Japan, the United States and Europe. He referred to progress on Chinese-backed initiatives, including the Teesta River project and a major hospital project in Nilphamari, and spoke about strengthening Bangladesh’s armed forces to counter “any aggression,” without specifying threats.

Yunus’ government assumed charge in August 2024 following the fall of the previous regime and is now handing over to a newly elected administration led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. In his closing remarks, he called for a “just, humane and democratic Bangladesh,” saying he was stepping down with optimism about the country’s future direction.