The Bangladesh Army has confirmed its plans to revive the long-dormant Lalmonirhat Airport.
The Bangladesh Army has officially confirmed its plans to revive the long-dormant Lalmonirhat Airport, a strategic site once used during World War II.
On 26 May, during a press briefing at the Bangladesh Army Headquarters in Dhaka, Brigadier General Md Nazim-ud-Daula, Director of Military Operations, announced that the long-defunct airport in Lalmonirhat is being revived to meet the country’s growing infrastructural and strategic needs.
“Bangladesh’s overall capabilities are expanding, and accordingly, so are our needs,” he said, adding, “Although the airport has remained inactive for years, it is now being revived out of necessity.”
The government plans to expand the airport’s operations and build new infrastructure to support both military and civilian aviation.
Nazim-ud-Daula further stated that the facility would be integrated into the broader expansion of the country’s aviation sector, especially with the presence of the newly established Aviation and Aerospace University adjacent to the site.
“This airport is a national asset,” he asserted, adding, “Its proper utilisation will serve national interests and contribute to future aviation and aerospace advancements.”
When asked about potential foreign involvement, particularly by China, Nazim-ud-Daula clarified that no such proposals were under consideration, assuring that any foreign interest or partnership would be carefully evaluated through security assessments before decisions were made.
With the airfield lying just over 160 kilometres from the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow and strategically crucial “Chicken’s Neck” that connects India’s northeast to the rest of the country, New Delhi is likely to view this development through a security lens.
Experts say India may lodge a fresh diplomatic query or increase surveillance along the northern borders of West Bengal and Assam. New Delhi could also leverage back-channel diplomatic mechanisms to request transparency on the project’s scope, particularly regarding any dual-use infrastructure or foreign involvement.
This corridor is considered a military vulnerability by Indian defence planners due to its proximity to China, Bhutan, and Nepal.
India already signalled unease over the matter in previous months.
On 9 April, responding to questions regarding Bangladesh's reported plan to revive the airport, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We closely follow, as you know, all developments which have an impact on our security and we take action as appropriate."
Indian security experts, including noted geostrategist Brahma Chellaney, warned that a functional Lalmonirhat airport, especially with any Chinese link, could allow Beijing to enhance aerial surveillance over Indian military positions and infrastructure in the Siliguri Corridor.
Chellaney argued that even without Chinese aircraft directly operating from the base, it could serve as a logistical or intelligence outpost, escalating tensions in an already sensitive region.
"Any military presence or increased air activity near this corridor is a major concern for India, as its disruption would effectively cut off the Indian northeast from the Indian mainland," he added.
The issue gained traction in India after ALM Fazlur Rahman, a retired major general and close aide of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, made controversial comments on Facebook on 29 April, suggesting Bangladesh should consider military action in India’s northeast if India attacked Pakistan.
The comments triggered a firestorm online and in Indian media.
Rahman currently heads an independent commission, constituted by the Yunus-led interim government, to re-investigate the 2009 Pilkhana massacre in Bangladesh.
However, the Bangladeshi government swiftly disowned the comment.
On 30 April, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, clarified that Rahman's statement was made in his personal capacity and did not reflect official policy.
“The interim government does not share his views in any shape or form and does not endorse such rhetoric. Bangladesh respects the sovereignty and independence of all nations and expects the same from others,” said Alam.
Meanwhile, as the strategic debate unfolded, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded in a social media post on 25 May, pointing out that Bangladesh has two “chicken necks” of its own, which he claimed are "far more vulnerable".
Constructed during World War II, the Lalmonirhat airport sprawls across 1,166 acres and features a nearly four-mile-long runway. Despite its scale, it has been mostly inactive for over six decades. The airstrip was briefly reopened in 1958 and later earmarked as the Bangladesh Air Force’s headquarters after its independence in 1971, although that plan never materialised.
In 2020, the Army’s pilot training academy was relocated to Lalmonirhat. The newly operational aerospace university, located beside the airstrip, is expected to offer world-class training in aviation, aircraft maintenance, and space technology.
Bangladeshi economists see great potential in reviving the airport. Many believe that it could spark economic transformation in the greater Rangpur region, boosting trade, connectivity, and employment.
While domestic needs and development goals may drive the decision to revive Lalmonirhat airport, its strategic location ensures it will remain under international scrutiny. How Bangladesh navigates its infrastructure development while managing the geopolitical sensitivities of its neighbours will be closely watched in the months ahead.
(Nilotpal Bhattacharjee is an expert on Bangladesh affairs)
