Assam: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday strongly reacted to repeated remarks emerging from sections in Bangladesh suggesting the separation of Northeast India and its merger with Bangladesh, calling such notions “baseless and dangerous.”
Speaking to reporters, Sarma said that over the past year, statements and discussions have surfaced repeatedly in Bangladesh hinting at attempts to detach the Northeast from India. He categorically dismissed these claims, asserting that India is a sovereign, powerful nation and such ideas are unrealistic.
“India is a very large country, a nuclear power and one of the world’s strongest economies. The idea that Bangladesh can even think of separating the Northeast from India is completely misguided,” Sarma said.
The Chief Minister also criticised what he termed a “poor mindset” among certain sections in Bangladesh and cautioned against India extending excessive support if such rhetoric continues. He emphasised that India would not remain silent in the face of behaviour or statements that undermine its sovereignty.
Sarma added that it is important to send a clear message that India will firmly respond to any attempt to challenge its territorial integrity or provoke instability in the region.
His remarks come amid growing concern in the Northeast over geopolitical narratives and online discussions originating across the border, prompting renewed calls for vigilance and diplomatic clarity.
Earlier, Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP), issued a warning suggesting that Dhaka could offer shelter to forces hostile to India, including separatist groups, and spoke of attempts to “sever the seven sisters”, a reference to India’s northeastern states.
Addressing a gathering at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, Abdullah claimed that Bangladesh would provide sanctuary to “separatist and anti-India forces” and asserted that such support could be used to cut off the northeastern region from India. The remarks were met with loud applause from sections of the audience.
The term “seven sisters” collectively refers to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Of these, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram share a land boundary with Bangladesh, underscoring the strategic sensitivity of the region in bilateral security considerations.
