Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday raised concerns over what he described as a significant demographic shift in the state, claiming that the proportion of Bangladesh-origin Muslim residents could rise sharply by the time the next official census figures are released.

Referring to the 2011 Census, Sarma said Muslims accounted for 34 per cent of Assam’s population at the time. He added that around 3 per cent of this figure comprised indigenous Assamese Muslims, while the remaining 31 per cent, according to him, were of Bangladesh origin.

“There was no census in 2021,” the Chief Minister said, pointing to the postponement of the national headcount. “When the census report comes out in 2027, the Bangladesh-origin Muslim population will be around 40 per cent.”

Sarma’s remarks come amid long-standing political and social debates in Assam over migration, identity and citizenship, particularly in the context of allegations of undocumented immigration from neighbouring Bangladesh. Demographic change has remained a sensitive issue in the state, influencing electoral politics and policy decisions over the years.

The Chief Minister’s projection has triggered mixed reactions across the political spectrum, with some leaders supporting the emphasis on demographic trends, while others cautioned that such assertions could heighten communal tensions.

The next census data, expected after the delayed 2021 enumeration, is likely to be closely scrutinised by policymakers, political parties and analysts, given its potential implications for Assam’s socio-political landscape.