The Voice News:India is preparing to reactivate the long-defunct Kailashahar airport in Tripura amid growing concerns over Bangladesh’s reported plans to revive the WWII-era Lalmonirhat airbase in Rangpur with Chinese support.
Indian security agencies are on high alert as Lalmonirhat lies just 20 km from the India-Bangladesh border and close to the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor — a narrow 22-km strip connecting India’s northeast to the mainland. Any Chinese military presence in Lalmonirhat could give Beijing a strategic advantage dangerously close to India’s ‘chicken’s neck’.
Reports suggest that if China finances the Lalmonirhat renovation, it could deploy military assets — including fighter jets, radars, and surveillance systems — at the site. In response, India is fast-tracking development of Kailashahar, originally used during the 1971 India-Pakistan war by the Kilo Flight unit — the precursor to the Bangladesh Air Force.
While the revamped Kailashahar facility is expected to remain a civilian airport, it will be upgraded to support Indian Air Force operations during emergencies.
The move also comes amid strained India-Bangladesh relations following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Her successor, interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has yet to call elections and has shown greater openness toward China and Pakistan, raising strategic concerns in New Delhi.
The Lalmonirhat development, if realized, could significantly alter the security landscape of the region. In contrast, India’s Kailashahar revival is seen both as a tactical response and a symbolic nod to historical cooperation during Bangladesh’s liberation.
On May 26, 2025, a team from the Airports Authority of India visited Kailashahar to assess its condition. Officials confirmed that detailed planning will proceed in coordination with Tripura’s state government.
Beyond geopolitics, restoring Kailashahar also holds local significance, as Tripura currently relies heavily on Agartala for air travel. The project promises improved regional connectivity and infrastructure.
