Bangladesh Fortifies Feni Corridor Against Covert Threats from Indian EPZ

Reading Time: 4 minutes Overview A 900-acre Indian Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Feni District, Bangladesh, has become a focal point of regional security anxiety amid fears it could be repurposed for military use by Indian forces. Originally signed off as an economic initiative under bilateral trade cooperation frameworks, the EPZ remains undeveloped. However, intelligence assessments by Bangladeshi security agencies indicate India’s strategic community had ambitions of covertly deploying military or paramilitary forces in or near the zone — a move that would significantly alter the balance of power along the eastern frontier. To counter this latent threat, the Bangladesh Army has initiated a rapid force posture enhancement in the area, with the 24 Infantry Division raising a new infantry brigade plus supporting combat and surveillance units to secure what has now been termed Bangladesh’s “eastern Achilles’ heel.” EPZ or Forward Operating Base in Disguise? The Indian EPZ in Feni