Guwahati : India’s security establishment is increasingly concerned over the evolving political and security situation in neighbouring Bangladesh, with intelligence sources warning that the growing influence of Islamist and jihadi forces could have serious implications for Assam and the wider Northeast.

Security officials told that Jamaat-e-Islami is steadily gaining ground and could even emerge as a major political force in the next general election in Bangladesh, scheduled for February next year. Its student wing, Islamic Chhatra Shibir, has also expanded its footprint and is reported to have established full control over three major universities in the country.

Sources said that while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had not traditionally been viewed as pro-India, it remained a democratic political entity that had, at times, sought to improve ties with New Delhi. Jamaat-e-Islami, however, was described as an overtly Islamist organisation, with the potential to push Bangladesh towards becoming an Islamic republic if it gains power.

At the same time, the activities of extremist and jihadi outfits are said to be on the rise. Leaders of the Ansar Bangla Team and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), who were arrested during the previous regime, are now out of jail, with both organisations reportedly regaining strength.

Security sources cautioned that, as in the past, such groups could attempt to establish bases in Assam and other parts of the Northeast.

The present caretaker administration in Bangladesh was described by sources as being “totally anti-India”, with concerns that it could directly or indirectly facilitate activities hostile to India’s interests.

Officials pointed to recent developments, including Pakistani ships docking at Chittagong port after several decades and frequent visits by Pakistani Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers to Bangladesh.

“It would not be surprising if terror groups are allowed to set up launch pads in Bangladesh,” a source said, adding that such a scenario would pose a direct threat to India’s internal security, particularly in the Northeast.

Sources also flagged recent remarks attributed to Md Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, as deeply troubling. Yunus has reportedly stated that Northeast India should be cut off from the rest of the country, with security officials warning that while this may not be attempted through direct military confrontation, efforts could be made to destabilise the narrow Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the ‘chicken neck’.

“You cannot choose your neighbour, but you can be careful against your neighbour,” a source remarked, stressing the need for heightened vigilance.

Security agencies have recommended tighter surveillance along the India-Bangladesh international border, along with strict internal monitoring to prevent radical elements from exploiting the situation to radicalise youths and carry out activities detrimental to national security.