Guwahati, Dec 27: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has raised concerns over demographic trends in the state, claiming that the proportion of Bangladesh-origin Muslim residents could rise significantly by the time the next official census figures are released.
Referring to the 2011 Census, Sarma said Muslims constituted 34 per cent of Assam’s population at that time. He added that around 3 per cent were indigenous Assamese Muslims, while the remaining 31 per cent, according to him, were of Bangladesh origin.
Noting that the decennial Census scheduled for 2021 was postponed, the Chief Minister said updated figures are now expected much later. “When the census report comes out in 2027, the Bangladesh-origin Muslim population will be around 40 per cent,” Sarma said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of long-standing political and social debates in Assam over migration, identity and citizenship, particularly those linked to alleged undocumented immigration from Bangladesh. Demographic change has remained a sensitive issue in the state, shaping electoral discourse and public policy over the years.
The Chief Minister’s projection has drawn mixed reactions from across the political spectrum. While some leaders have supported the focus on demographic trends, others have cautioned that such statements could heighten communal tensions.
The next census data, to be released after the delayed 2021 enumeration exercise, is expected to provide updated population figures and will be closely scrutinised by policymakers, researchers and political stakeholders for its implications on Assam’s socio-political landscape.
