April 9, 2025
Red Lantern Analytica (RLA) notes with affirmation the Government of India’s recent decision to withdraw the transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo to third countries via Indian territory. This development comes in the backdrop of evolving strategic considerations in South Asia and renewed geopolitical assertions by Bangladesh in concert with external actors.
As a sovereign nation with legitimate security interests, India has consistently demonstrated a commitment to regional connectivity, economic integration, and support for its neighbors. However, regional cooperation must be anchored in mutual respect, sensitivity to strategic red lines, and an appreciation of the complex geography and security architecture of South Asia—particularly in the fragile and vital Northeast Indian corridor.
The recent comments by Professor Muhammad Yunus during his visit to China—advocating for Bangladesh’s strategic positioning as a maritime conduit for Chinese economic expansion into India’s landlocked Northeast—are deeply concerning. Such assertions risk undermining decades of goodwill, connectivity frameworks, and shared development goals fostered between India and Bangladesh. The proposition of extending Chinese influence into India’s sensitive Siliguri Corridor—often termed the ‘Chicken Neck’—is not only strategically provocative but misaligned with the spirit of regional trust and cooperation.
India’s calibrated decision to rescind the 2020 transshipment circular underlines the importance of preserving strategic balance and safeguarding its territorial integrity while remaining committed to WTO norms and its broader regional obligations. It also serves as a reminder that transit privileges, while extended in good faith, are not to be misconstrued as avenues for strategic leverage.
RLA encourages all regional stakeholders to pursue economic and strategic dialogues that enhance mutual trust, ensure transparency, and strengthen sovereign security concerns—particularly in geopolitically sensitive regions. Respectful engagement and adherence to shared norms must remain the foundation of regional partnerships in South Asia.
