In response, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a media release on Friday stating, “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 parties to refrain from associating the state with the personal views expressed by Rahman, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
The ministry further emphasized that Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect, and the peaceful coexistence of all nations.
Earlier in March, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus sparked controversy during an official visit to China with remarks concerning India’s northeastern region.
Speaking at a business event, Yunus noted that India’s seven northeastern states—bordering Bangladesh over a stretch of nearly 1,600 kilometers—are landlocked and lack direct access to the ocean except through Bangladeshi territory.
He described Dhaka as the “only guardian” of the Indian Ocean in the region and invited China to use Bangladesh as a trade corridor to send goods across the globe.
Yunus’ comments drew strong disapproval from New Delhi and were widely condemned by Indian political leaders across party lines. The remarks were seen as provocative, particularly in the context of regional security and trade dynamics.
