China eyes World War II-era airbase in Bangladesh: Why India should be alarmed

In a development that has set off quiet alarm bells in India’s strategic circles, reports have emerged of possible Chinese involvement in the long dormant Lalmonirhat airbase in northern Bangladesh. India continues to closely watch China’s reported plans to build an airfield in the Lalmonirhat district.

The airstrip, a relic from World War II, might seem like an unlikely point of geopolitical friction. But its location – just over 130 km from the Siliguri Corridor, India’s most critical and vulnerable strategic bottleneck – transforms it into a potential chess piece in the ongoing power rivalry in South Asia.

What adds to the concern is the deepening military and economic relationship between China and Bangladesh. From submarines and frigates to critical infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing has gradually secured a foothold in Dhaka’s strategic landscape. While Bangladesh has so far balanced ties with both Asian powers, even symbolic Chinese interest in Lalmonirhat could upset the region’s delicate equilibrium.

The forgotten airfield: History of the Lalmonirhat airbase

The Lalmonirhat airbase, located in northern Bangladesh near the Indian border, holds historical significance dating back to World War II. Originally constructed by the British colonial administration in 1931, the airfield served as a key logistics hub for the Allied forces. During the war, it was used for ferrying supplies, evacuating injured personnel, and staging aircraft movements as part of the Burma Campaign against Japanese forces.

Strategically situated near the then-frontline regions of Burma (now Myanmar) and Assam, the airbase was one of several in the subcontinent that played a role in the Allied effort to push back Axis-aligned forces. However, after the war ended and with the partition of British India in 1947, the airfield lost its relevance and gradually fell into disuse.

Under East Pakistan (1947–1971), and even after Bangladesh’s independence, the Lalmonirhat airfield remained largely dormant. Over the decades, it became known more for local aviation training purposes and civil aviation activities rather than any military role.

Why India should be concerned?

• India remains highly sensitive to security developments near the Chicken Neck area in West Bengal—a narrow land corridor that links the country's northeastern states to the mainland.

• India has long accused China of following a “String of Pearls” strategy - developing military-capable ports and facilities in India’s neighbourhood. Bangladesh, traditionally a friendly neighbour, tilting toward this pattern would represent a major strategic shift.

• India’s Northeast has been a historically sensitive area, both ethnically and politically. Any increased Chinese footprint near this region would pressure India to redistribute military assets, reroute logistics, and fortify its infrastructure.

• Bangladesh remains one of India’s most important neighbours. However, China’s creeping influence in Dhaka’s defence and infrastructure sectors threatens to complicate an otherwise strong bilateral relationship. Any indication of Chinese presence at Lalmonirhat could push India to re-evaluate its diplomatic and security postures with Bangladesh.