A senior leader of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP), Hasnat Abdullah, has triggered controversy after delivering a strongly worded speech that included remarks perceived as hostile toward India, particularly its northeastern region known as the “Seven Sisters.”
Speaking at a public gathering at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, Abdullah suggested that Bangladesh could potentially offer shelter to groups opposed to India, including separatist elements. His comments implied that such support could destabilise and even fragment India’s northeastern states. The remarks reportedly received enthusiastic applause from sections of the audience present at the event.
The “Seven Sisters” region comprises Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Notably, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram share direct land borders with Bangladesh, making the region strategically sensitive in bilateral relations.
According to reports from local media, Abdullah accused India of repeatedly undermining Bangladesh’s sovereignty, democratic values and national dignity. He warned that if such actions were to continue, Dhaka would be forced to respond, adding that unrest in Bangladesh would not remain confined within its borders.
The NCP leader further alleged that India has continued to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs even decades after the country’s independence. He claimed that Bangladesh remains under pressure from what he described as external “predatory forces” attempting to exert influence and control.
India, for its part, has consistently maintained that in the past, militant and separatist groups active in the Northeast had used Bangladeshi territory as safe havens and transit routes. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Indian intelligence agencies had linked outfits such as the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) to training camps and logistical networks operating across the border.
Abdullah’s remarks are likely to add strain to an already delicate regional and diplomatic landscape, drawing attention to longstanding security concerns in South Asia.