The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

Upheaval followed in Bangladesh after Bangladesh's Army Chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, publicly urged that national elections be held by December this year, warning that prolonged deployment of the army for civil duties could compromise the country's defences. Subsequently, there were closed door meetings between Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh and Chiefs of the Armed Forces amid rumours of Yunus resigning. However, Wahiduddin Mahmud, acting head of the planning ministry, told reporters Yunus hasn't said he'll resign and the other advisers are also staying. Yunus is adamant that elections will only be held around June 2026.

The US wants a corridor in Bangladesh to assist the Arakan Army in Myanmar. ISI and American mercenaries are present in Bangladesh. The BNP, being the largest political party (with Awamil League banned), will come to power whenever elections are held. The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) openly hold anti-India rallies. BNP is pro-Pakistan and China, which suits the US as well to keep India under pressure.

Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh has invited China to establish an airbase at Lalmonirhat, as well as inviting a Pakistani firm as a sub-contractor to assist in the development

General Waker-Uz-Zaman
Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army

It was reported in these columns on March 14, 2025 that the Yunus has renewed MoU with China's state-run PowerChina of the nearly $1 billion project and Bangladesh plans awarding the $1 billion Multipurpose Teesta Project to China, with both these projects coming up close to the India's Chickens' Neck area – also referred to as the Siliguri Corridor.

In addition to the above, Yunus has invited China to establish an airbase at Lalmonirhat, as well as inviting a Pakistani firm as a sub-contractor to assist in the development. Lalmonirhat, located about 12-15 km from the Indian border and about 135 kms from the Chicken's Neck, has a World War II-era airbase in Lalmonirhat. Chinese officials have reportedly inspected the Lalmonirhat airfield, which is currently under the Bangladesh Air Force but has been inactive for decades. Earlier this year, a delegation of senior officers of the Pakistani army and ISI visited Rangpur District of Bangladesh after spending time at Dhaka. Lalmonirhat District and Rangpur District are both part of the Rangpur Division.

Lalmonirhat is located about 12-15 km from the Indian border and about 135 kms from the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow land passage connecting India's north-eastern states to the rest of the country.

The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow land passage connecting India's north-eastern states to the rest of the country. At its narrowest point, it is only about 22 kms wide, making it a critical chokepoint for India's territorial integrity. Any military infrastructure development in its vicinity, especially with foreign assistance, raises significant security concerns for India. But that is not all.

When the BNP was in power in Dhaka, the Bangladesh army used to practice 'Cold Start' to invade the Siliguri Corridor and join up with terrorist groups operating in the area, in conjunction with a Chinese thrust from the north to cut off northeast India. There have been reports of Rohingya occupying land on both sides of the roads and rail-lines passing through the Siliguri Corridor. China illegally claims Arunachal Pradesh and has been assisting militant group in our northeast.

A few years back, Nepal gave oil mining rights to a Chinese company in its Terai region although India's ONGC was also a contender. Chinese projects abroad always have a complement of the Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) in disguise. Therefore, we should expect PLA presence in Terai region of Nepal, PLA and ISI presence in Lalmonirhat, PLA presence in both the PowerChina and Multipurpose Teesta Project in northern Bangladesh.

Bangladesh army used to practice 'Cold Start' to invade the Siliguri Corridor and join up with terrorist groups operating in the area, in conjunction with a Chinese thrust from the north to cut off northeast India.

Which aircraft China plans to deploy at Lalmonirhat is not known but it could serve as a forward surveillance or logistics post, provide dual-use capabilities (civil-military) and offer aircraft refuelling or maintenance facilities for the PLA. With Chinese involvement, the airbase poses a potential strategic threat to India, particularly because of its proximity to the Siliguri Corridor, which is a critical lifeline for troop movement, logistics, and civilian access to the northeast. Any hostile presence or airbase nearby could monitor, disrupt, or target this vital link during a conflict.

Aside from aircraft, the airbase could have a complement of UAVs and UCAVs, plus electronic warfare (EW) systems to monitor Indian aerial movements and 'interfere' with them, when required, it could also house weapons/missiles in underground silos, as is the case in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK). With Chinese satellite systems covering entire India, Lalmonirhat could also be used to facilitate terrorist attacks in India.

The Indian Army conducted an integrated field exercise named, Operation 'Teesta Prahar' in the Siliguri Corridor near the Bangladesh border on May 8-10, 2025, aimed to showcase enhanced combat readiness and joint-force coordination in a riverine terrain. The exercise involved various arms and services, including infantry, artillery, and special forces, and utilised newly inducted weapons systems.

Indian Army conducted an integrated field exercise named, Operation 'Teesta Prahar' in the Siliguri Corridor near the Bangladesh border on May 8-10, 2025, aimed to showcase enhanced combat readiness and joint-force coordination

According to news reports, India has deployed the S-400 AD missile system to protect the Siliguri Corridor. It is obvious that other weapon systems, including the BrahMos missiles and UAVs/UCAVs would also have been positioned to protect the region. The area should be cleared of the Rohingya menace. A layered approach for not only air defence, but also border security is essential, maximising the use of technology. Simply relying on a fence or electronic surveillance is insufficient, as human ingenuity and technological advancements can often circumvent such barriers. 24x7 satellite-based real-time surveillance, in addition to EW and counter-EW measures are essential.

Should conflict occur, India has the experience of Operation 'Sindoor' how to deal with the Lalmonirhat airbase. India must also have contingency plans ready and rehearsed for widening the Siliguri Corridor. India should not renew the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, which lapses in 2026. Should Bangladesh resort to proxy war on India (like Pakistan), we should pay it back in the same coin in the territory of Bangladesh. All these actions, naturally would go hand-in-hand with diplomatic and economic measures to stop our adversaries from misbehaving.