Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly backed the Indian government’s move to withdraw the transshipment facility previously extended to Bangladesh, describing it as a bold and strategic decision that reinforces national security and economic sovereignty, particularly in the sensitive Northeastern region.
Taking to social media, CM Sarma stated, “India’s decision to revoke the transshipment facility for Bangladesh underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding national interests and the security of the Northeast region. This decisive action reflects the government’s firm stance on protecting India’s strategic and economic priorities.”
The move comes in response to recent tensions between the two nations, following controversial remarks by Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. During a visit to China, Yunus asserted that India’s northeastern states are “landlocked” and dependent on Bangladesh for ocean access—an assertion that sparked diplomatic unease and nationalistic concern across India.
In light of these developments, the Indian government revoked Bangladesh’s access to transshipment routes used to export goods to Europe, the Middle East, and other regions via Indian ports and airports. However, India has maintained exemptions for Bangladeshi exports headed to Nepal and Bhutan, citing WTO obligations to facilitate trade for landlocked countries.
The decision has been widely viewed as a recalibration of India’s cross-border trade agreements in the face of emerging geopolitical challenges, signaling a shift toward greater protection of the Northeast’s connectivity and strategic leverage.