Highlights
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warns that if threats to separate India’s Northeast continue
- Links recent remarks to statements made by Bangladeshi political figures
- Reiterates India’s military and economic strength while issuing a sharp diplomatic warning
- References the strategic vulnerability of Bangladesh’s own geographical sensitivities
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a strong warning, saying New Delhi will not remain silent for long if threats to detach India’s Northeast from the mainland continue.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday (16 December), Sarma reacted sharply to repeated statements allegedly coming from Bangladesh that call for separating or annexing India’s northeastern region.
He said such rhetoric reflects what he described as a “low mentality” and warned that India would respond firmly if provoked.
“ভারত থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন করে উত্তর-পূর্বাঞ্চল দখলের বারবার আহ্বান বাংলাদেশের ‘হীন মানসিকতার’ প্রতিফলন।”
Translation: “Repeated calls to separate and seize India’s Northeast reflect a ‘low mentality’ in Bangladesh.”
The Assam Chief Minister claimed that for nearly a year, statements have been heard from across the border suggesting that India’s Northeast should be merged with Bangladesh.
“গত এক বছর ধরে বাংলাদেশ থেকে ভারতের নর্থইস্টকে তাদের সঙ্গে একীভূত করার আহ্বান জানিয়ে বক্তব্য শোনা যাচ্ছে। বাংলাদেশের জন্য এমনটা কল্পনা করাও ভুল।”
Translation: “For the past year, statements have been coming from Bangladesh calling for India’s Northeast to be merged with them. Even imagining such a thing is wrong.”
Emphasizing India’s strategic strength, Sarma reminded that India is a vast nation, a nuclear power, and the world’s fourth-largest economy. He also issued a stern warning on bilateral conduct.
“বাংলাদেশের মানুষের মানসিকতা খারাপ… আমাদের উচিত দেশটিকে সাহায্য না করা এবং তাদের জানিয়ে দেওয়া যে, ভারতের বিরুদ্ধে এমন আচরণ করা হলে আমরা চুপ থাকব না।”
Translation: “The mentality of the people in Bangladesh is bad. We should not help the country and should make it clear that if such behavior continues against India, we will not remain silent.”
This sharp response came a day after remarks by Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP). At a rally held on Monday (15 December) at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, organized by Inqilab Mancha, Hasnat issued a controversial warning linked to alleged Indian interference in Bangladesh.
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“আমরাও ভারতের বিচ্ছিন্নতাবাদীদের বাংলাদেশে আশ্রয় দিয়ে সেভেন সিস্টার্স আলাদা করে দেব।”
Translation:“We will also give shelter to India’s separatists in Bangladesh and separate the Seven Sisters.”
Earlier this year, Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus made remarks that fueled further debate by pointing out the landlocked nature of India’s northeastern states.
“ভারতের পূর্বাঞ্চলের সাতটি রাজ্য ভূমিবেষ্টিত। তাদের সাগরে পৌঁছানোর কোনো পথ নেই। আমরাই সাগরের একমাত্র অভিভাবক।”
Translation: “India’s seven eastern states are landlocked. They have no access to the sea. We are the only guardians of the sea.”
Following these comments, attention turned to India’s narrow Siliguri Corridor, widely known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, which connects the Northeast to the rest of India. In response, Sarma previously cautioned that Bangladesh itself has two vulnerable corridors.
He pointed out:
- An 80-kilometer stretch running from South Dinajpur in West Bengal to South-West Garo Hills in Meghalaya, passing through Bangladesh
- A 28-kilometer Chittagong Corridor stretching from South Tripura to the Bay of Bengal
Source: TBS
