POBNEWS24, Desk report Dhaka Nov 15, 2025 : The news of India’s increased military presence around the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ near the Bangladesh border, has sparked fresh discussions among analysts. The initiative to build two new army stations in Assam and Uttar Dinajpur, increased surveillance by the BSF on the border, and recent exercises are raising questions about the strategic situation in the region.
According to security experts, the main goal of India’s presence is to secure the Siliguri Corridor. The new geopolitical situation after the political change in Bangladesh may also play a role in this presence.
According to analysts, the Siliguri Corridor is a very sensitive area for India’s territorial integrity – because it connects the mainland of India with seven northeastern states, and China’s influence is also a major consideration here.
In such a situation, claims are being made on social media that the 62-kilometer border of Lalmonirhat has come under Indian control. BBC Bangla went to Lalmonirhat to verify the situation and spoke to the BGB and local residents to find out the truth of this claim.
Lalmonirhat district has a 345-kilometer border. Regarding the recent rumors, Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam, commander of 15 BGB, said, “This is a complete rumor. Fake news. It has been spread to confuse the locals. The BGB is on regular patrol and the people of the area are living their lives normally. He said that there is regular communication with the BSF and joint patrols are also going on normally.
On visiting the Mogalhat border, it was seen that locals were working in the fields and driving boats on the banks of the Dharla River as before. The villagers confirmed that no land grabbing or infiltration of troops had taken place. However, they admitted that the BSF has increased patrols compared to before, the number of patrol teams has increased, and temporary posts have also increased. The incident of three Bangladeshis injured in BSF firing on November 11 has also increased the concerns of the locals.
What is India doing near the border
India has started construction of two new army bases in Dhubri in Assam and Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur, very close to the Bangladesh border. Earlier this year, a major joint exercise of the three Indian forces was held in the Siliguri Corridor area.
Retired Indian Major General Dipankar Banerjee told the BBC that increasing the capacity of the Indian army is a natural decision as the Siliguri Corridor is a very strategic area. He said that this is a complete capacity increase. The BSF is in charge of the border, there is no army deployment usually. Some installations are being rearranged here.
India believes that there is a sensitive situation from the Doklam area to the Siliguri Corridor, which is forcing them to be ready. However, he believes that this step is not directly related to the political relations between Bangladesh and India.
What is the assessment in Bangladesh
Lieutenant Colonel Mehdi Imam said that the situation has not yet arisen for Bangladesh to be concerned about the location of India’s internal military bases. He said, this is purely their personal movement. As long as it does not question our sovereignty, it is their internal matter. If I see something on my border that is interfering with our sovereignty or border protection, something is going beyond the rules of the border – then that is my concern. But if they do something according to the rules, it is their internal matter.
Former Major General of Bangladesh Naeem Ashfaq Chowdhury says that India has taken this decision after calculating strategically. According to him, three factors are influencing it – the security of the Siliguri corridor, preventing China’s military and economic influence, and India’s strategic concerns over the recent political changes in Bangladesh.
Besides, Naeem Ashfaq Chowdhury analyzes that India does not like China’s long-term presence in the Lalmonirhat airport and Teesta project near the Siliguri corridor.
Indian security analyst Dipankar, however, says that India does not see Bangladesh as a threat from a military perspective. He said, we do not accept that there could be any kind of military threat from Bangladesh.
The reality is that there are regular clashes on the Pakistan border in India’s west. India did not consider Bangladesh an enemy on the eastern border, which was encouraged by Sheikh Hasina. However, if someone else takes advantage of the strategic position on the 4,000-kilometer-long border with Bangladesh, it would be a cause for concern for India, analysts say.
