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Jaishankar Raises Alarm Over ‘Greater Bangladesh’ Map Displayed in Dhaka, Flags Turkish NGO Link and Security Implications

A controversial map showing a so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes territory in India has emerged at an exhibition at Dhaka University. It caused intense alarm in New Delhi.

In a written reply in Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar disclosed that the exhibition is suspected to be connected with an obscure Islamist organization, Saltanat-e-Bangla, sponsored by a Turkish NGO called the Turkish Youth Federation.

The disclosure was made in reply to a starred question moved by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala in the Rajya Sabha. It has given a new twist to India’s vigilant engagement with Bangladesh in the face of growing fears of foreign influences acting in the sub-continent.

‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ and Turkish Links Raise Red Flags

The government is seriously considering the issue and keeping an eye on it for any implications on India’s national security, says Jaishankar. “The Government has taken note of reports that an Islamist group in Dhaka known as the ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, with the support of a Turkish NGO known as the ‘Turkish Youth Federation’, has published a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes territory in India,” the minister added.

The map, unveiled at Dhaka University during Pohela Boishakh festivities on April 14, 2025, reportedly caused controversy for its territorial representation. While the Bangladesh government has subsequently played down the incident, Jaishankar’s comments suggest India is leaving nothing to chance.

Dhaka Dismisses Political Motive, Describes it as Historical Reference.

The fact-checking division of the Bangladesh government, BanglaFact, released a clarification refuting any active presence in the country by the Saltanat-e-Bangla group. It explained that the map in question was exhibited in a historical display and intended to represent the medieval Bengal Sultanate’s territorial reach, not imply any modern irredentist demand.

Dhaka University event organizers have also refuted any foreign link, political agenda, or awareness of the Turkish NGO’s participation. They asserted that the show was part of a cultural festival and not designed to raise geopolitical controversy.

India Keeps Watch, Government Silent on Diplomatic Outreach

Though Bangladesh has kept its distance from the controversy, Jaishankar asserted that India is not taking the development lightly. “The government is still taking all necessary steps to ensure national security,” he indicated, but did not go on to outline if India had issued a formal protest to Dhaka.

The Congress MP Surjewala had specifically questioned whether India had raised the issue diplomatically and whether an internal security review of the increasing Turkish and Pakistani activities in Bangladesh had been made. Jaishankar’s response was restrained on both these, although reflective of strategic sensitivity.

Background of Controversy: New Front in Regional Influence?

This incident occurred when South Asia increasingly saw ideological and geopolitical undercurrents shaped by external actors. The Turkish Youth Federation, whose links to Islamist outreach campaigns have also been flagged in other regions, now appears to be surfacing in the India-Bangladesh context, albeit through indirect channels.

Though the map's origins might be found in a reinterpretation of history, the political sensitivities of territorial sovereignty and external interference are still strong. Even metaphorical representations that blur borders cause concern for India, particularly when amplified through transnational realms.

As the row brews, India will likely increase behind-the-scenes diplomatic action while watching out for those who use cultural spaces to probe geopolitical thresholds.