A significant diplomatic controversy has emerged following the display of a controversial map by a Turkey-supported NGO in Dhaka, which depicts a so-called “Greater Bangladesh” incorporating large portions of India’s eastern and northeastern states, as well as parts of Myanmar.
The provocative map, as reported by The Economic Times, includes India’s states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, the entire Northeast, and Myanmar’s Arakan region. The map, which has sparked strong concerns, was reportedly seen in university halls across the capital, particularly in areas frequented by students and youth.
One such image, captured in April this year at Dhaka University’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) during Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year), shows an individual holding the “Saltanat-E-Bangla” map, which portrays multiple Indian regions as part of an expanded Bangladesh.
The incident has stirred significant diplomatic tensions, especially with India, at a time when the bilateral relationship between the two countries is already strained. This growing discord follows the Bangladesh government’s failure to control rising attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in the country.
The controversy has further intensified due to Turkey’s increasing influence in Bangladesh. Reports indicate expanding Turkish military cooperation with Dhaka under the Yunus government. Turkish-backed NGOs, often aligned with the ruling AKP party of Turkey, have become increasingly active in Bangladesh.
Experts closely monitoring Turkish foreign influence have raised alarms over the potential spread of Islamist ideologies, including those linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, through these NGOs. Pakistan is also believed to be playing a behind-the-scenes role in strengthening the relationship between Turkey and Bangladesh.
The diplomatic row comes at a time of intense competition between Bangladesh and India in the textile sector, with bilateral trade between the two nations reaching USD 12.9 billion in 2023–24. As strategic tensions escalate, India is likely to closely monitor Turkey’s activities and ideological influence in the region.
