Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reignited a sharp regional debate by pointing out Bangladesh’s own geographical vulnerabilities—two narrow corridors he called “chicken necks,” similar to India’s Siliguri corridor.
This came weeks after Bangladesh’s interim government head Muhammad Yunus commented on India’s northeast being “landlocked” and dependent on the Siliguri corridor—a 20-km-wide stretch in West Bengal that links the northeast to the rest of India.
And now, Sarma has made it clear: Bangladesh, too, has its own chokepoints. And they might be even more fragile.
Bangladesh’s Two Chicken Necks
Sharing a map on X (formerly Twitter), Himanta Sarma identified two key narrow passages inside Bangladesh:
The North Bangladesh Corridor – An 80-km stretch between Dakhin Dinajpur (India) and South West Garo Hills (Meghalaya). Sarma warned that “any disruption here can completely isolate the Rangpur division from the rest of Bangladesh.”
The Chittagong Corridor – A mere 28-km route connecting South Tripura to the Bay of Bengal. This, he stressed, is the only road between Bangladesh’s economic hub (Chittagong) and its political capital (Dhaka).
In his words: “Just like India’s Siliguri Corridor, our neighboring country is also embedded with two narrow corridors of theirs. I am only 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
The Backstory: Yunus’s Provocative Statement
The tension began in March when Muhammad Yunus claimed that Bangladesh was the “guardian of the ocean” for India’s northeastern states—calling them “landlocked” and opening the door to deeper Chinese economic involvement.
Sarma hit back hard, calling the statement “offensive and condemnable,” and reminded people that even some in India had once dangerously floated the idea of cutting off the Northeast by targeting the Chicken’s Neck.
The statement made by Md Younis of Bangladesh so called interim Government referring to the seven sister states of Northeast India as landlocked and positioning Bangladesh as their guardian of ocean access, is offensive and strongly condemnable. This remark underscores the…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 1, 2025
Sarma’s remarks aren’t just about maps—they reflect a bigger concern: India’s northeast has always been treated like a distant outpost. Sarma wants to change that. He called for stronger railway and road alternatives around Siliguri and urged India to build resilient infrastructure that doesn’t depend on a single fragile strip.
“It may be tough engineering-wise, but it can be done—with innovation and resolve.”
This is more than a border squabble. It’s about national pride, regional security, and sending a message that India knows its weak spots—and isn’t afraid to call out others for theirs.
For years, China has been expanding its influence in South Asia. Statements like Yunus’s, delivered while visiting Beijing, aren’t accidental. Sarma’s sharp retort isn’t just aimed at Dhaka—but at the growing shadow of Beijing on India’s eastern flank.
