Latest news with #MohammadYunus
India.com
21-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
India to prepare for 3.5 front war as Pakistan, China, Bangladesh hold secret meeting in Kunming... what are they planning?
India to prepare for 3.5 front war as Pakistan, China, Bangladesh hold secret meeting in Kunming... what are they planning? In the rapidly changing geopolitics, India's security concerns are now taking a new form. Now is not the time when there was a threat on the borders only from Pakistan and China. The '2.5 front war' that General Bipin Rawat talked about a decade ago, now seems to be changing into a '3.5 front war'. The reason for this is the first trilateral meeting of Pakistan, China and Bangladesh in Kunming city of China recently. This meeting between officials of China, Pakistan and Bangladesh on June 19 was for the first time, but its message was big. China's Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladesh's Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddiqui and Pakistan's Additional Foreign Secretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting. Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated through video link. The meeting was called 'Development Friendly Trilateral Dialogue', but its diplomatic meaning goes far beyond this. The statement issued after the meeting talked about 'people centric development in the South Asian region'. But given Bangladesh's executive leadership and its recent closeness with China, for India it seems more like a strategic alignment than diplomacy. Why is India's concern about Bangladesh increasing? In March 2025, Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Prof. Mohammad Yunus, during his visit to China, described Bangladesh as a political and economic partner of China. He had said that China should make way through Bangladesh to reach the market of Northeast India. This was the statement after which India banned Bangladesh's textile products on 17 May. Bangladesh was considered a strategic friend of India as long as Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister. However, after Hasina's coup, the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has increased its closeness with Pakistan and China. What is the danger of a 3.5 front war? General Bipin Rawat, while talking about '2.5 front war', had said that India will have to face the challenge of terrorism and internal security along with China and Pakistan. But now this equation seems to be changing after seeing the role of Bangladesh. Rakhine Corridor: Another emerging tension zone The Rohingya crisis was discussed in the recent talks between Bangladesh and America. Along with this, Bangladesh's National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman has advocated a 'humanitarian corridor' to Myanmar's Rakhine province. This area is very sensitive from a strategic point of view for India, China and Bangladesh. America is also now showing interest in this area. India must be prepared India will have to understand the new realities by leaving behind its strategic perspective. It will have to take the issues related to Bangladesh more seriously on both diplomatic and defence fronts. Along with this, it will be necessary to strengthen connectivity, economic blockade and border monitoring in Northeast India. '3.5 Front War' is no longer a fantasy, but an emerging reality. And India will have to be prepared for it.
United News of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Bangladesh national polls possible in Feb, CA Yunus and BNP reach agreement
Dhaka, June 13 (UNI) Bangladesh Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus and BNP chairman Tarique Rahman have agreed that general elections could take place a week before Ramadan in the second week of February, provided all preparations were completed by then. The preparations include sufficient progress in electoral reforms and the July Uprising trials. The BNP chairman, who met the CA in the Dorchester Hotel in London, reportedly expressed satisfaction with the decision, putting both parties on the same page after the BNP came to loggerheads with the interim government over its decision to hold elections in April next year, which they called unfeasible. The interim government appointed National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman. briefing media about the meeting between Rahman and Yunus, said it was held in a cordial environment. "Tarique Rahman proposed to the chief advisor that the national election be held before next year's Ramadan. The party's chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia, also believes that holding the election during that time would be good," Khalilur said, reports Daily Star. "The chief advisor said that he has already announced that the election will be held in the first half of April next year. If all preparations are completed, the election could be organised in the week before Ramadan in 2026. However, sufficient progress in reforms and judicial matters will need to be achieved within that timeframe". UNI ANV SSP
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
People hopeful of fresh start after MHA declare ₹25 cr for damaged houses in J&K
With the Union ministry of home affairs sanctioning additional ₹25 crore for the cross border shelling victims of J&K, the affected families are hopeful that the amount will help them in starting their life afresh. Around 2,000 houses were damaged in J&K during the cross border shelling last month post operation Sindoor when Pakistani army targeted civilian areas in several parts of union territory. The victims say the UT government gave them peanuts which wasn't enough to lay foundation of the house. With additional ₹25 crores now the affected families can be compensated in a better way especially those who lost everything in the cross border shelling in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Uri and Kupwara. The UT administration has already completed the assessment of damaged properties and submitted it's report to ministry of home affairs. Even the J&K BJP also submitted assessment report about the damaged properties. 'I lost my house and couldn't retrieve anything. So far we received ₹1.10 lakh from the J&K government. We don't know what to do with this money as everything is costly nowadays,' said Mohammad Yunus of Salamabad in Uri where five houses were completely damaged. The affected families have been shifted to government accommodation. 'We heard the Centre has released another ₹25 crores and hope now we will be given adequate compensation so that we can begin our lives afresh,' he said. Another villager, Firoz ud din said shelling has left them on the road. 'Our house was damaged completely and now we are on road. Government gave us an amount which is just peanuts. With central aid we are hopeful now good compensation will be provided to us so that we can rebuild our houses.' Earlier, PM Narendra Modi had announced additional compensation for houses damaged by Pakistani shelling in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir following Operation Sindoor. The MHA ensured swift implementation of PM's announcement. 'This is an additional amount to what these families have received as per norms set by centre and state government,' said a senior J&K government officer. Alone in Uri, Kupwara and Tanghdar around 600 structures were damaged completely or partially most of the properties belong to villagers living below poverty. CPI(M) delegation in Uri A high-powered delegation of CPI(M) visited Uri and met the families affected in shelling-affected villages. CPI(M) general secretary and legislator Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said the delegation led by the national general secretary CPI(M) MA Baby, comprised members of Parliament Amra Ram, K Radhakrishnan, John Brittas, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, SU Venkatesan, and AA Rahim. The leaders said that the aim of this visit of the delegation is to express solidarity with villagers affected by cross border shelling and to assess the situation on the ground zero.
Times of Oman
30-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
MEA refutes Bangladesh's allegation "Indian media delegitimises transitional leadership"
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday refuted Bangladesh's chief adviser Mohammad Yunus's claims that "Indian media delegitimises transitional leadership." Speaking in a weekly briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed Bangladesh's accusations of Indian interference as an attempt to deflect attention from internal issues. "As far as the government there is concerned, the responsibility for law and order and governance issues lies entirely with that government," Jaiswal said. "When statements of this sort come, it seems like you want to deflect in another direction from your own challenges related to governance there -- and to blame others by saying that these extraneous issues caused by others are the reason for these problems -- does not solve the issue," he added. Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, alleged that external factors, including India, might be behind efforts to destabilise the country. Yunus stated that there were "relentless efforts to destabilise Bangladesh" both internally and externally, leading to a "war-like situation." Sharing some links of articles on X, Yunus wrote, "these articles are part of a coordinated disinformation campaign propagated by segments of the Indian right-wing media aiming to delegitimise Bangladesh's transitional leadership." The MEA spokesperson also urged Bangladesh to hold an inclusive, free, and fair election at an early date to ascertain the people's will and mandate. Jaiswal stated, "On Bangladesh, we have articulated our position very clearly, as far as elections in Bangladesh are concerned, and we have done so consistently. Bangladesh needs to ascertain the will and mandate of the people by holding an inclusive, fair and free election at an early date." Yunus has announced plans to hold elections between December 2025 and June 30, 2026, and has assured that he will not stay in power beyond that date. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed unease over the continuation of the interim government and has demanded that elections be held by December this year. The political landscape in Bangladesh remains tense, with differing opinions on the election timeline and the role of the interim government. Local media reported on Thursday that Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has expressed a desire that national elections be held by December this year, amidst ongoing political unrest and the interim government's failure to announce a clear roadmap for the next parliamentary elections. Several political parties, including Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have been demanding parliamentary elections by December. However, the National Citizens Party (NCP), a new party led by students who overthrew Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, wants fundamental reforms before the elections. Further, Jaiswal noted that India wants a "positive and constructive relationship" with Bangladesh. "I would like to underline once again that we have approached our issues and our relationship with Bangladesh. We want a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh, one anchored in meeting the aspirations and the interests of the people of both sides," he said. Regarding recent developments in Bangladesh, including cancelling a USD 180 million defense deal, Jaiswal said, "India and Bangladesh have several defence cooperation initiatives under implementation. Regarding any specific example you asked, I will be glad to revert to you after ascertaining more details on this issue." On Bangladesh's efforts to build a humanitarian corridor with Myanmar, Jaiswal mentioned that "India follows such developments closely." Recently, the interim government in Bangladesh proposed the creation of a humanitarian corridor into Myanmar's Rakhine State. On April 27, Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh's interim government agrees in principle, subject to conditions, to the United Nations' proposal to create a humanitarian corridor through Bangladesh to send aid to Myanmar's Rakhine, Dhaka Tribune reported. While speaking to reporters at Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 27, Hossain said, "According to the United Nations' proposal, Bangladesh has agreed to allow a humanitarian corridor to Rakhine. It will be a humanitarian passage. However, we have certain conditions. I will not go into details. If the conditions are met, we will certainly assist." "A large population from Myanmar has taken refuge in our country, and we want to repatriate them. We must do whatever is necessary to facilitate their return," Dhaka Tribune quoted him. He said that the entire border is under the control of a non-state actor and there is no control of Myanmar's central government there. "The entire border is now under the control of a non-state actor. There is no control of Myanmar's central government there. Therefore, for our own interests, some form of communication is necessary-- although we cannot formally communicate with the non-state actor, it will not be possible for us to stay entirely disconnected even if we want to," he said.
India.com
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
India Deploys Rafale Jets And S-400 At Siliguri Corridor; Draws Red Line For China And Bangladesh
New Delhi: India has fortified its most vulnerable but strategically important stretch, the Siliguri Corridor, which is also known as the Chicken's Neck, by deploying Rafale fighter jets and Russian-made S-400 air defence system. The 20-22 km wide corridor is India's only land link to its northeastern states and sits at the crossroads of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and China. With Pakistan already rattled, New Delhi has now turned its strategic gaze eastward and is drawing red lines. While tension with Pakistan eases, India's eyes are now on Beijing and Dhaka. Recent Chinese military drills near the India-Bhutan border and fast-moving political shifts in Bangladesh, according to The Asia Live, have put New Delhi on alert. What is worrying is that the interim government in Dhaka, under Mohammad Yunus, is reportedly leaning toward China and Pakistan – a potential axis that is likely to reshape the strategic balance in India's east. India, in response, has tightened Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) restrictions within 10 kilometres of its international border and stepped up aerial surveillance across the entire eastern front. Bangladesh Eyes 32 JF-17 Jets; India Sees Red India's anxiety has spiked after reports surfaced that Bangladesh may acquire 32 Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, which are equipped with AESA radar, EW pods and long-range missiles. If stationed in northern Bangladesh, these fighter aircraft could threaten Indian airbases and important infrastructure across the border. To make matters worse, a Pakistani ISI delegation recently visited Dhaka allegedly to discuss intelligence-sharing and anti-terror cooperation. Led by Major General Shahid Amir Asfar, the visit has only added to India's unease. Responding to the shifting ground, India has made its intentions clear. The deployment of the S-400 air defence system, which is capable of neutralising threats up to 400 kilometres away, along with a Rafale squadron at Hashimara Airbase, is more than just tactical positioning. It is a strategic warning. India's military has also adopted a multi-zone deterrence doctrine, combining real-time ISR integration, cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, seamless tri-service coordination and fortification of key roads, tunnels and rail links in the Siliguri Corridor for rapid military mobilisation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is 'closely monitoring developments in the region' and will take decisive action if needed. This is one of the most direct public acknowledgments so far that India views Bangladesh's recent shifts as a potential national security threat. Drawing the Line India's military posturing at the Siliguri Corridor is not only a show of strength but also a strategic declaration that any misadventure, whether from the north (China) or east (Bangladesh) will be met with full force. In this era of proxy alliances, grey-zone warfare and tech-driven conflicts, India is sending a loud and clear message that the corridor is not merely a passage, it is a red line as well.
