Assam – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has sounded a sharp warning over what he described as the growing demographic impact of illegal immigration from Bangladesh, cautioning that the state could face grave consequences if the trend continues unchecked.
Addressing reporters after an official programme on Tuesday, Sarma claimed that residents of Bangladeshi origin currently make up nearly 40 per cent of Assam’s population. He warned that if this figure rises by another 10 per cent, the state could “automatically be included” in Bangladesh.
“This has been my concern for the last five years. If the proportion increases further, Assam’s identity and territorial integrity will be at risk,” the chief minister said, responding to questions about recent remarks from a Bangladeshi political leader.
His comments follow a controversial statement earlier this month by Hasnat Abdullah of Bangladesh’s newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP). Abdullah had reportedly suggested that Dhaka should attempt to isolate India’s northeastern states and support separatist elements if New Delhi sought to destabilise Bangladesh. He also described the Northeast as geographically vulnerable due to its reliance on the narrow Siliguri Corridor — often referred to as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ — that connects the region to the rest of India.
Sarma has consistently linked demographic shifts caused by illegal immigration to broader concerns over national security, cultural identity, and political stability in the Northeast. He reiterated the need for strict measures to safeguard Assam’s constitutional and territorial integrity.
