India is carefully examining reports concerning a potential plan by China to construct an airfield in the Lalmonirhat district of northern Bangladesh. This development is raising significant security concerns for New Delhi, particularly regarding the strategically vital eastern border region known as the "Chicken's Neck" or Siliguri Corridor.
The Lalmonirhat district's location in northwestern Bangladesh places it in close proximity to the Indian state of West Bengal, specifically near the districts of Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar.
This area is geographically very near the Siliguri Corridor – a narrow strip of Indian land, only about 22 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. This corridor is critically important as it connects India's northeastern states to the rest of the country and is bordered by Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Recognizing its strategic vulnerability, India maintains a substantial military presence in the corridor.
While official documentation has not confirmed the project, there is speculation that the proposed airfield might have been a topic of discussion during a recent visit by Bangladesh's interim government head, Md Yunus, to China. However, no formal reference to such a project has emerged from official channels.
Security analysts note that although no Chinese military aircraft are currently stationed in India's immediate eastern vicinity, the potential establishment of an airfield capable of hosting them presents serious security implications. Observers suggest that such a facility, if used for military purposes, could significantly increase the vulnerability of India's northeastern states, along with Sikkim and West Bengal, to air operations.
Indian authorities continue to monitor the situation regarding the potential airfield closely due to its potential impact on regional security dynamics.
