A retired Army officer, reportedly close to Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, called for occupation of Northeastern states of India if the latter attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22.
‘Bangladesh should “start discussing joint military system with China’
According to The Times of India, Maj Gen (retired) ALM Fazlur Rahman, a former chief of Bangladesh, posted on his social media account, suggesting that Bangladesh should “start discussing a joint military system with China.”
China’s growing interest in South Asia
Rahman made his remarks on April 29 amid tension heightened between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack. Rahman’s remarks are important and invite scrutiny after China’s growing interest in maintaining its presence through investments in other countries and building infrastructure, particularly along the Arunachal Pradesh border. Earlier, Yunus had encouraged Chinese investors and had said: “The eastern part of India, known as the Seven Sisters, is landlocked. They have no access to the ocean. We are the only guardians of the ocean in this region.”
Bangladesh govt maintained distance
The Bangladesh government immediately maintained distance from Rahman’s statement. The authorities said Rahman’s statements do not reflect the government’s stance.
Bangladesh asked Pak to apologise for atrocities during 1971 Liberation War
On April 17, Bangladesh raised historical unsettled issues with Pakistan, including a formal public apology for the atrocities committed against Bangladesh during the 1971 War of Liberation by the Pakistani forces and pending financial claims from Pakistan.
During Operation Searchlight, Pakistani army killed an estimated three million Bengalis as well as raped over a million women.
Bangladesh also raised unsettled issues like the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis and the transfer of foreign aid funds sent to the victims of the 1970 cyclone.
