Bangladesh opposition leader opposes Indian transit corridor

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has warned against efforts to facilitate an Indian transit corridor through Bangladesh. Speaking at a rally in Dhaka, Islam accused Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government of attempting to hand over an illegal corridor to India, noting that the people of Bangladesh would not accept such a move.

Islam also called for a fair water-sharing agreement with New Delhi before the current Ganges treaty expires in December. He threatened fresh protests if the renewal does not protect Bangladesh’s share of the river’s waters.

The NCP was formed in February 2025 by leaders linked to the student-led movement that protested against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in July 2024. These remarks follow a recent visit by Prime Minister Rahman to Japan, where leaders agreed to upgrade the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) initiative into a strategic cooperation initiative focused on connectivity and regional stability.