[🇧🇩-Airforce] Bangladesh Air Force and how it is viewed by Indian Air Force.

Saif · Apr 9, 2025

Chinese airfield plan in Bangladesh district close to Chicken's Neck area raises Indian concerns

India is scrutinizing reports of China's plan to build an airfield in Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat district, which could pose security threats to its eastern border, including the Chicken's Neck area. The strategic location near Sikkim and West Bengal makes India's northeast vulnerable. Meanwhile...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Chinese airfield plan in Bangladesh district close to Chicken's Neck area raises Indian concerns

Synopsis

India is scrutinizing reports of China's plan to build an airfield in Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat district, which could pose security threats to its eastern border, including the Chicken's Neck area. The strategic location near Sikkim and West Bengal makes India's northeast vulnerable. Meanwhile, Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar and foreign secretary Amna Baloch will visit Bangladesh soon.

India is studying reports of a Chinese plan to build an airfield in Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat district which will emerge as a challenge for New Delhi's security interests along the eastern border, including the Chicken's Neck area.

The proposed airfield might have figured during Bangladesh interim regime's chief adviser Md Yunus visit to China, though there is no reference to the project in official documents, ET has learnt.

Lalmonirhat is strategically located in northwestern Bangladesh, closer to Jalpaiguri and Coachbehar districts of West Bengal. The Chicken's Neck is geographically closer to the area. It is a narrow stretch of land in West Bengal that connects the northeastern states to the rest of India and is bordered by Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China. The Indian military has a strong presence in the area.

While no Chinese air force fighter jet has been stationed in India's eastern neighbourhood so far, any such proposal has serious security implications for India as the entire northeast, Sikkim and West Bengal will be vulnerable, according to Bangladesh watchers.

Meanwhile, Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar will visit Bangladesh from April 24 and foreign secretary Amna Baloch is scheduled to visit the country from April 17. This will be the first ministerial visit from Pakistan to Dhaka since 2012 and several MoUs may be signed during the visits.

Bilal9 · Jul 29, 2025

They will keep whining because IAF (or their daddy BJP) can't do jack $hit about it....

Now that the "vaunted" Rafale has proven itself to be no match for subsonic missiles in the skirmish with Pakistan - the Indian confidence for Rafale is at near zero. They'd rather keep whatever Rafales they have at Hasimara AB and count their blessings. And not lose any more Rafales.

Saif · 2026-01-17T02:07:57-0500

India to Operationalize 5 Airbases on 3 Sides of Bangladesh | MUNA Bulletin

To enhance regional connectivity and ensure strategic security in the states bordering Bangladesh, the Indian government has taken the initiative to revive five abandoned airstrips/airbases from World War II.

eng.munabulletin.com

India to Operationalize 5 Airbases on 3 Sides of Bangladesh

To enhance regional connectivity and ensure strategic security in the states bordering Bangladesh, the Indian government has taken the initiative to revive five abandoned airstrips/airbases from World War II.

The main objective of renovating these bases located in West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura is to further strengthen the protection of India’s extremely sensitive “Siliguri Corridor” or “Chicken’s Neck”.

According to a report by The Times of India, this initiative has been taken at a time when diplomatic relations with neighbouring Bangladesh are at their lowest point in history. New Delhi is currently unwilling to take any kind of risk regarding the security of this narrow corridor, which is the only land connection between Northeast India and the mainland.

Defence analysts see Bangladesh’s initiative to reconstruct the Lalmonirhat airbase in the Rangpur division as a major reason behind India’s activity. Since the Lalmonirhat airbase is located very close to India’s Siliguri Corridor, concerns have arisen in Indian military circles.

Although the Bangladesh government has officially stated that this airbase will be used only for its own national needs, according to Indian sources, India is also revamping its military preparations to handle any sudden situation in the border area. Already, three new army bases have been established in areas bordering West Bengal and Bihar, and the process of activating these five airstrips is part of those military preparations.

According to the plan, the airstrips to be renovated are Ambari and Panga in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal; Balurghat in South Dinajpur; Jhaljhalia in Malda; and Dhubri in Assam. Prior to this, Koch Bihar and Rupsi Airport in Assam had been successfully activated.

Currently, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has handed over the responsibility of the airfields in West Bengal to the state government.

However, defence sources have indicated that there are several technical challenges in making these abandoned airstrips usable again. Due to being unused for several decades, many airfields are now covered in dense jungles, the runways have broken down and become damaged, and in some cases, settlements have developed around the runways.

Consequently, although they are currently not suitable for large combat aircraft operations, efforts are underway to make them usable for landing helicopters or small military aircraft in emergencies through minor repairs.