Himanta Sarma highlights Bangladesh’s “2 Chicken Necks” in strategic counterpoint
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a strong rebuttal to recent comments by Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus regarding India’s Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sarma reminded that Bangladesh itself has two similar vulnerable corridors that could pose strategic concerns for Dhaka.
Sarma referred to the 80-km North Bangladesh Corridor, located between Dakhin Dinajpur and South West Garo Hills, stating that any disruption there could isolate the entire Rangpur division from the rest of Bangladesh. The second, he said, is the 28-km Chittagong Corridor, which runs from South Tripura to the Bay of Bengal and connects Bangladesh’s economic and political capitals.
“Just like India’s Siliguri Corridor, our neighbouring country is also embedded with two narrow corridors of theirs,” Sarma stated, emphasizing that he was “presenting geographical facts that some may tend to forget.”
To those who habitually threaten India on the “Chicken Neck Corridor”, should note these facts as well:
1️⃣ Bangladesh has two of its own “chicken necks”. Both are far more vulnerable
2️⃣ First is the 80 Km North Bangladesh Corridor- from Dakhin Dinajpur to South West Garo… pic.twitter.com/DzV3lUAOhR
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 25, 2025
Context: Yunus’s “guardian of the ocean” remarks
In March, Muhammad Yunus, during a four-day visit to China, described Bangladesh as the “sole guardian of the Bay of Bengal” and portrayed India’s northeastern states as “landlocked,” suggesting this opened doors for greater Chinese economic influence in the region.
Sarma had previously condemned Yunus’s remarks as “offensive and strongly condemnable,” accusing the Bangladeshi leader of reviving the “vulnerability narrative” surrounding India’s strategic Siliguri corridor.
Strategic implications and India’s response
The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow stretch of land, only 20 km wide at its narrowest point, that connects the Indian mainland to the Northeast. It is flanked by Nepal and Bhutan to the north and Bangladesh to the south, making it geopolitically sensitive.
Sarma stressed the need for India to invest in alternative road and rail routes, including bypasses around the Siliguri corridor, to ensure uninterrupted access to the northeastern states.
“Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested severing this critical passageway. Therefore, it is imperative to develop more robust railway and road networks,” he stated, adding that such infrastructure projects, though challenging, are achievable with “determination and innovation.”
Strategic warning
Concluding his remarks, Sarma warned that Yunus’s “provocative statements must not be taken lightly,” claiming they reflect “deeper strategic considerations and longstanding agendas.”
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