Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday raised serious security concerns for the state and the Northeast, citing intelligence inputs that suggest the presence and movement of senior leaders of banned militant outfits, including the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Sarma said intelligence agencies had recently detected visits by top commanders of ULFA and other militant groups that are not part of any ceasefire arrangement.

“Recently, certain visits have taken place involving top commanders of ULFA and some other small militant groups that are not under ceasefire. Their presence has been noticed on the soil of Bangladesh,” the Chief Minister said.

Referring to past cooperation between India and Bangladesh, Sarma said the support extended by the Awami League government under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had been instrumental in curbing militancy and restoring peace in Assam and the wider Northeast.

“We have been able to tame ULFA and militancy in Assam because of the help we received from the then Bangladesh regime. Assam and the Northeast would not have been peaceful without Sheikh Hasina. That is the reality,” he said.

The Chief Minister cautioned that any deterioration in ties or a rise in hostility towards India following political changes in Bangladesh could have serious security implications for the region. He warned that militant groups could exploit such a situation to regroup or establish bases across the border.

“If there is a regime change in Bangladesh and hostility towards India increases, there is a real threat of militants building bases there,” Sarma said, noting that Assam shares more than 800 kilometres of international border with Bangladesh. “That makes the threat very serious. We are closely monitoring developments to see whether militants are shifting their bases to Bangladesh,” he added.

In recent weeks, Sarma has also spoken out about the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, including allegations of atrocities against them. On January 13, he said developments across the border were already having an impact on Assam, particularly in districts adjoining Bangladesh.

He noted that the Centre had taken cognisance of the situation and that Assam had been placed on high alert, with security measures intensified in sensitive border areas to prevent any spillover.

The Chief Minister further said the state government would formally urge the Union government to take appropriate diplomatic and administrative steps to ensure the safety and security of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

While foreign policy remains the domain of the Centre, Sarma said state governments have a responsibility to flag concerns when humanitarian issues and cross-border developments pose a risk to regional peace and stability.