‘Will Cut Off Seven Sisters from India’: Bangladesh NCP Leader’s Remark Sparks Strong Reaction from Assam CM

New Delhi/Dhaka: Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah on Monday issued a provocative warning suggesting that Dhaka could provide refuge to forces hostile to India, including separatist groups, in remarks that appeared to threaten the territorial integrity of India’s northeastern region, commonly referred to as the “seven sisters.”

Reacting strongly to the statement, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday described the comments as “irresponsible and dangerous,” asserting that India would not remain silent in the face of such rhetoric.

The “seven sisters” — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura — form a strategically sensitive region for India. Four of these states, namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, share a land border with Bangladesh, underscoring the security implications of Abdullah’s remarks.

Addressing a public gathering at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, Abdullah claimed that Bangladesh could offer sanctuary to “separatist and anti-India forces.” He warned that such backing could be used to isolate India’s Northeast from the rest of the country, comments that reportedly drew loud applause from sections of the audience.

According to local media reports, Abdullah said, “I want to make it clear to India that if you provide shelter to forces that do not respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, potential, voting rights, and Human Rights, Bangladesh will respond.” He further cautioned that any attempt to destabilize Bangladesh would have far-reaching consequences for the region.

“If Bangladesh is destabilized, the fire of resistance will spread beyond its borders,” Abdullah warned, escalating the tone of his address.

He also alleged that even after 54 years of independence, Bangladesh continues to face interference from “vultures” seeking to exert control over the country, a remark widely interpreted as a criticism of India’s regional role.

‘Dangerous and Irresponsible’: Himanta Biswa Sarma Responds

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday reacted sharply to Abdullah’s remarks, calling the idea of separating India’s Northeast or merging it with Bangladesh “irresponsible and dangerous.” He warned that repeated statements of this nature could not be taken lightly.

“For the last one year, statements have been coming again and again from that country that the states of Northeast India should be separated and made a part of Bangladesh,” Sarma said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Lumding.

He added that such rhetoric undermines regional stability and disregards India’s sovereignty, stressing that New Delhi would respond firmly to any threats against its territorial integrity.

Historical Context: Militancy and Cross-Border Concerns

India has, in the past, accused militant and separatist groups operating in the Northeast of using Bangladeshi territory as a safe haven, transit route, and logistical base, particularly during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Indian security agencies had linked outfits such as the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) to camps and support networks across the border. Officials said cadres of these groups frequently crossed into Bangladesh to evade Indian security forces, while training and weapons procurement were allegedly facilitated from across the border.

Bangladesh was also cited by Indian agencies as a hub for Islamist extremist networks with alleged links extending beyond the Northeast. Organisations such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) were later blacklisted by India for their role in radicalisation and logistical support affecting eastern India.

Shift in Ties After 2009

The security dynamics between the two neighbours underwent a significant shift after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned to power in Bangladesh in 2009. Since then, Dhaka has carried out sustained operations against extremist and insurgent groups targeting India.

This crackdown led to a marked improvement in bilateral security cooperation, with both countries working closely on intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism efforts, and border management.

In addition to his comments on India, Hasnat Abdullah also criticised the Bangladesh Election Commission’s description of the attack on election candidate Osman Hadi as an “isolated” incident, calling the assessment “spineless.”

The remarks, coming amid heightened political activity in Bangladesh, have added a new layer of tension to India-Bangladesh relations, particularly at a time when regional stability and cross-border cooperation remain critical.