Trailblazing the attack following Bangladesh interim chief minister Muhammad Yunus’ statement regarding the “chicken neck” corridor, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a stern warning. Highlighting Bangladesh’s own geographical vulnerabilities, Biswa said, “To those who habitually threaten India on the “Chicken Neck Corridor”, should note Bangladesh has two of its own chicken necks”.
This comes after Yunus said on his visit to China in March 2025 how Bangladesh is the only “guardian of the ocean” for India’s north-eastern states. Himanta’s comments underscore India’s concerns over regional security, especially in light of reports suggesting China’s involvement in reviving a World War II-era airbase at Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh, near the Indo-Bangladesh border close to Siliguri.
VIDEO | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) says, "We have been regularly hearing statements from across the border claiming that India is very vulnerable and that the Northeast is connected to the rest of the country only through the 'chicken neck.' However, people are… pic.twitter.com/sIkKZmuBrB
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 26, 2025
Presenting the “geographical facts” Biswa reminded Bangladesh of its own regionally sensitive regions, from Dakhin Dinajpur to South West Garo Hills. Additionally, he also brough up the Chittagong Corridor that goes from South Tripura till Bay of Bengal. As per the Assam CM, this corridor is “the only link between Bangladesh’s economic capital and political capital.”
“Just like India’s Siliguri Corridor, our neighbouring country is also embedded with two narrow corridors”
The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow stretch of land, approximately 22 to 35 kilometers wide, that connects India’s northeastern states to the rest of the country. The northeastern states of India—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim—share extensive international borders: 1,596 km with Bangladesh, 1,395 km with China, 1,640 km with Myanmar, 455 km with Bhutan, and 97 km with Nepal. These states are linked to the rest of the country by a narrow 22-km-wide land passage known as the “Chicken’s Neck” corridor.
The Assam Chief Minister’s statements reflect India’s broader strategic considerations in the region, emphasising the need to safeguard critical infrastructure and maintain national integrity amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.