China aids revival of WW II-era Bangladeshi airbase near India's 'Chicken's Neck'

China is reportedly aiding Bangladesh in reviving an World War II airbase at Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh, just 12-15 kilometres from the Indian border.

- BY SVENKAT NARAYAN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The airfield, currently controlled by the Bangladesh Air Force but inactive for decades, lies only 135 kilometres from the Siliguri Corridor—India’s crucial ‘Chicken’s Neck’ connecting the northeast to the rest of the country.

Chinese officials recently visited the site, signalling Beijing’s growing interest. Although the precise purpose—civilian or military —is unclear, a Chinese presence so close to this narrow passage could increase India’s strategic vulnerability.

Lalmonirhat airbase: A legacy from the past. Originally built by the British in 1931, Lalmonirhat served as a forward base for Allied forces in Southeast Asia during World War II. After Partition in 1947, Pakistan briefly reopened it in 1958 for civilian use. Since then, it has been largely abandoned, despite its sprawling 1,166 acres and facilities including a four-kilometre runway and large tarmac.

In 2019, Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina government announced plans to develop an aviation and aerospace university there, which is now operational under the Bangladesh Air Force.

Recently, the interim administration led by Mohammed Yunus proposed reviving Lalmonirhat and five other British-era airports to boost the economy. The other airports include Ishwardi, Thakurgaon, Shamshernagar, Comilla, and Bogra.