Dr. Yunus's comment has made India sleepless, will build a new highway!

A comment by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has created a sensation in India's political and strategic circles. During his visit to China last March, Bangladesh's chief advisor Dr. Yunus said that the northeastern states of India (Seven Sisters) are completely landlocked and Bangladesh is their only guardian country by sea. At the same time, he also said that Bangladesh can play a very important role in China's economic expansion.

After this comment, India became active and announced the construction of a four-lane expressway at a cost of Rs 22,864 crore to reduce its dependence on Bangladesh and establish a direct connection between the northeast and the mainland. The highway will extend from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam and will be 166.8 kilometers long. It is planned to be completed by 2030.

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation of India Limited (NHIDCL) said that this highway will be the first high-speed highway in the northeast and the first major infrastructure project in the region. Silchar is the gateway to Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and the Barak Valley of Assam, so it will act as a strategic corridor.

At the same time, India is investing in the 'Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport' project in Rakhine, Myanmar, to ensure an alternative sea route without Bangladesh. This project will connect Kolkata Port with Sitte River Port in Rakhine, from there to Zorinpui in Mizoram via Paletwa. Through this, cargo products can be sent directly from Kolkata or Visakhapatnam to the northeast.

However, experts have warned that the construction of this highway will not be easy at all. Because there are various natural obstacles including landslides in the hilly areas. However, the Indian Union Cabinet has already approved the project and work is about to begin.

The implementation of this project is seen as a major step towards freeing the northeastern region of India from its dependence on Bangladesh's land and seaports. However, there is still debate about whether it will reduce Bangladesh's geopolitical importance.