‘Time for Diplomacy Is Running Out’: Himanta Biswa Sarma Warns of Security Risks from Bangladesh Unrest

Amid growing unrest in Bangladesh and its potential spillover effects on India’s security, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday issued a stark warning, stating that diplomatic engagement alone may no longer be sufficient to address the crisis in the neighbouring country.

Speaking in an exclusive interview at News18’s Rising Assam Conclave, Sarma said the evolving situation posed serious risks to India’s national security, particularly for the northeastern region. He remarked that a “permanent solution” to the crisis in Bangladesh may ultimately require decisive action, using a medical analogy to suggest that “surgery becomes inevitable when medicine no longer works.”

Highlighting the strategic vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor—commonly referred to as the ‘Chicken Neck’—Sarma described it as India’s most critical security concern. The narrow stretch of land connects the Northeast to the rest of the country, with Bangladesh located on both its eastern and western flanks. Sarma suggested that securing the corridor could, in the future, necessitate acquiring 20–22 kilometres of territory, either through diplomatic means or by force, should circumstances demand it.

Calling the Siliguri Corridor an “unfinished agenda,” Sarma stressed that any decision on timing and approach would rest with the central government. He urged restraint, noting that strategic decisions often depend on historical moments. “We should not be impatient. History has its moment,” he said.

Turning his attention to Bangladesh’s interim leadership, Sarma expressed scepticism about the longevity of the Mohammed Yunus-led government. He argued that the present administration had created conditions that were deeply concerning for India, especially for border states like Assam. While elections could potentially stabilise the situation, Sarma said the current challenge was unprecedented in India’s experience.

Reflecting on historical decisions, Sarma questioned the outcomes of the 1971 India–Pakistan war, suggesting that India could have sought territorial adjustments at the time to permanently resolve vulnerabilities linked to the Siliguri Corridor. The absence of such measures, he argued, continues to expose India to strategic risks.

Sarma also criticised Congress-era policies surrounding Partition, claiming that flawed decisions forced populations unwillingly to remain in what was then East Pakistan, later Bangladesh. According to him, these choices laid the groundwork for long-term demographic and security challenges that persist today.

Addressing reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, including the killing of an individual identified as Dipu, Sarma condemned brutality in all forms. He emphasised that violence against any individual was unacceptable, while noting that attacks motivated by religious identity naturally intensified public outrage.

Raising alarm over demographic changes in Assam, the Chief Minister claimed that nearly 40 per cent of the state’s population was now of Bangladeshi origin, compared to an estimated 10–15 per cent at the time of Independence. He described the situation as a “powder keg” and warned that governance was becoming increasingly complex amid shifting population dynamics. Sarma further predicted that by the 2027 census, Assam’s Hindu and Muslim populations could approach parity.

Sarma also asserted that Bangladesh, in the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, was moving rapidly towards extremism. He said India could not maintain alignment with nations pursuing such trajectories, making strategic divergence inevitable.

Concluding the interview, Sarma underlined Assam’s heightened vulnerability as a border state, stating that a combination of external threats and internal demographic changes had pushed the region to a point where difficult decisions could no longer be postponed.