A diplomatic stir has erupted following an unusual gift presented by Bangladesh’s interim head, Muhammad Yunus, to a Pakistani military official. During a visit by General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Yunus gifted him a book titled ‘Art of Triumph: Bangladesh’s New Dawn’. The book, which commemorates a student movement, features a map that controversially includes India’s northeastern states, along with West Bengal and other Indian territories, within the purported borders of Bangladesh.
This ‘Greater Bangladesh’ map, which has been seen before, suggests an expansionist vision that has alarmed New Delhi. The map first gained attention during the Bengali New Year celebrations in Dhaka and was later brought up in India’s parliament. An associate of Yunus had previously shared a similar map, hinting at this narrative.
This territorial assertion comes at a sensitive time. Relations between India and Bangladesh have cooled since the recent political upheaval, with Yunus reportedly fostering closer ties with China and Pakistan. India has previously emphasized the importance of its northeastern region as a crucial link for the BIMSTEC economic bloc, directly refuting any notion of it being landlocked.
The incident mirrors broader regional territorial disputes. India continues to grapple with China over areas like Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh’s Aksai Chin. Pakistan also maintains its claim over the entirety of Kashmir. The map gifted by Yunus serves as a stark reminder of these ongoing border sensitivities and historical claims in South Asia.