Recent military activities in Bangladesh have triggered alarms in India, particularly concerning the nation’s vulnerable Siliguri Corridor. A significant Antonov AN-124 cargo jet, originating from Azerbaijan, landed in Dhaka under a veil of secrecy, avoiding known flight paths like Iran’s, which are often used for sensitive cargo. The nature of the shipment and the reason for its discreet transit remain officially unaddressed, fueling speculation. In parallel, Bangladesh’s Navy Chief, Admiral Mustaq Ahmed, was observed strengthening ties with Pakistan, focusing on naval collaboration and maritime industry development during the PIMEC 2025 event in Karachi. This renewed defense dialogue between Dhaka and Islamabad is viewed as a noteworthy development in regional military engagement.
Further compounding the situation, a U.S. military C-130 Hercules aircraft delivered a contingent of over a hundred American soldiers to Chattogram. The soldiers’ subsequent accommodation in a city hotel, with no official explanation provided for their deployment, has raised many questions. Chattogram’s strategic location, a mere stone’s throw – less than 100 kilometers – from India’s crucial Siliguri Corridor, the narrow gateway to its northeastern regions, amplifies these concerns. This corridor represents a critical strategic chokepoint for India. Observers in New Delhi are closely monitoring the increasing presence of U.S. and Pakistani forces in Bangladesh, fearing a potential destabilization of the security balance around the Siliguri axis. Experts suggest Bangladesh may be strategically building distinct military partnerships: with Pakistan for naval technology and shipbuilding, with the U.S. for logistical support and training, and possibly with Azerbaijan for specialized equipment. Against the backdrop of escalating great power competition in the Bay of Bengal, these new developments on India’s eastern frontier add a layer of strategic complexity and unease. While direct threats are not evident, the confluence of unexplained military arrivals and troop movements near a vital Indian asset has heightened India’s security apprehensions about Bangladesh’s evolving defense alliances and their potential impact on regional stability.