Bangladesh Crisis: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking at News18’s Rising Assam Conclave on Monday, said India may one day have to take 20-22 kilometres of land, either through diplomacy or force, to secure the region, saying surgery becomes necessary when medicine no longer works. His comment comes amid anti-India protests in Bangladesh, following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

Assam On High Alert: CM In View Of Unrest In Bangladesh

On another occasion on Monday, the chief minister said Assam is on "high alert" in the wake of the fresh wave of unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh, asserting the state government was closely monitoring the developments in Bangladesh.

"We have seen that in Bangladesh, Hindus are being subjected to atrocities and burnt alive... those who are currently in power in Bangladesh have been talking about including northeast India in their country," the CM said.

It is also well known that people from Bangladesh entered Assam at different times and the state is 'full of these people', he asserted.

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'Irresponsible And Dangerous': CM On Threat To Northeast

"We have to be vigilant and must keep a sharp eye on the developments in that country. Last week, 'Bangladeshi elements' have been repeatedly saying that northeast India should be merged with the neighbouring country by attacking India's chicken neck, which is 'irresponsible and dangerous', and India will not remain silent on this. 'India is a very big country, a nuclear nation and the fourth largest economy of the world. How can Bangladesh even think about it?' the chief minister had said.

India's chicken's neck, known as the Siliguri corridor, is a narrow strip of land, measuring around 22 km-35 km in width, that connects the northeast region with the rest of India.

Bangladesh's Two 'Chicken Necks' More Vulnerable Than Siliguri Corridor: Himanta

Earlier, in May this year, Sarma warned that those who 'habitually threaten' India on the 'chicken neck corridor', should note that Bangladesh has two such narrow strips of land which are "far more vulnerable".

Sarma in a post on X said, "To those who habitually threaten India on the 'Chicken Neck Corridor', should note these facts as well: Bangladesh has two of its own 'chicken necks'. Both are far more vulnerable. First is the 80 km North Bangladesh Corridor- from Dakhin Dinajpur to South West Garo Hills. Any disruption here, can completely isolate the entire Rangpur division from rest of Bangladesh."

(With PTI inputs)


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