Assam CM reminds Dhaka of two Bangladesh ‘chicken necks’

Assam CM warns Dhaka about its own 'chicken necks' amid threats to India's Siliguri corridor, highlighting vulnerabilities.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday (May 25, 2025) indicated Dhaka should think of its two “vulnerable” narrow strips of land before threatening to cut off India’s ‘chicken neck’ in West Bengal.

The chicken neck refers to the Siliguri corridor, a narrow strip of land between Bangladesh and Nepal that connects the eight northeastern States to India’s mainland.

Taking to X, he said those habitually threatening India on the Siliguri corridor should note that Bangladesh has two of its own chicken necks that are far more vulnerable.

“First is the 80 km North Bangladesh Corridor from Dakhin Dinajpur (West Bengal) to South West Garo Hills (Meghalaya). Any disruption here can completely isolate the entire Rangpur division from the rest of Bangladesh,” he said.

“Second is the 28 km Chittagong Corridor, from South Tripura till the Bay of Bengal. This corridor, smaller than India’s chicken neck, is the only link between Bangladesh’s economic capital and political capital,” Mr. Sarma said.

“I am only presenting geographical facts that some may tend to forget. Just like India’s Siliguri Corridor, our neighbouring country is also embedded with two narrow corridors of theirs,” he pointed out.

His observation is said to be a reaction to a call by Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladesh Government’s adviser, to integrate the northeast with an economic plan involving his country and Nepal. It is also seen as a message to a retired Bangladesh Army officer, who said Dhaka should occupy the northeast if India attacks Pakistan.