India Ends Bangladesh’s Transshipment Perk Amid Security Concerns Over Northeast
In a bold move reflecting growing strategic caution, the Indian government has decided to revoke the transshipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to route its exports to the Middle East, Europe, and other regions via Indian ports and airports. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the move as a clear signal that the security and interests of the Northeast region are now front and center in New Delhi’s policymaking.
This decision comes shortly after a controversial remark made by Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, during his visit to China. Yunus had referred to India’s northeastern states as “landlocked” and claimed that Bangladesh served as their only gateway to the Indian Ocean. The comment, seen by many in India as an overstep, triggered strong reactions from Indian leadership, especially in the Northeast.
Himanta Biswa Sarma didn’t hold back. He called Yunus’s statement “offensive and strongly condemnable” and emphasized the urgent need to explore alternative routes for the Northeast that would bypass the narrow Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’. This slender strip of land in northern West Bengal is India’s only direct land link to its northeastern states and is considered strategically vulnerable. It's just about 20 kilometers wide and surrounded closely by Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and China — making it one of the most geopolitically sensitive areas in South Asia.
The removal of the transshipment privilege to Bangladesh isn’t just about reacting to one statement. It sends a broader signal. India is re-evaluating the extent to which its neighbors can influence the country’s critical logistical and security frameworks, particularly in sensitive border regions. It also reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to rebalance foreign policy with firm national security goals, especially concerning the Northeast.
According to CM Sarma, the Centre’s decision marks a strong commitment to protecting India’s “strategic and economic priorities.” He underscored that the Northeast can no longer remain dependent on foreign territories for vital trade and transit routes. Instead, the government is expected to focus on building resilient and self-reliant connectivity solutions that strengthen internal links and reduce regional vulnerabilities.
The move may also lead to a renewed push for projects like multimodal corridors, riverine transport, and enhanced rail and road networks that connect the Northeast directly with the rest of India through Indian territory.
In short, India’s withdrawal of the transshipment facility is more than a diplomatic signal — it’s a strategic reset. By limiting Bangladesh’s logistical leverage, New Delhi is quietly reshaping the regional dynamics to ensure that the security and development of the Northeast are never left to chance.
