Bangladesh’s acting leader Muhammad Yunus has once again caused diplomatic tensions by delving into the matter of India’s northeastern region. This time, Yunus was observed giving a book to a Pakistani general that appeared to depict Assam and other northeastern states as part of Bangladesh.
The incident occurred during the visit of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairperson, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, to Dhaka over the weekend, where he met with Yunus. This meeting took place amidst improving relations between the two countries, which have historically faced strained ties since the 1971 Liberation War.
Yunus shared pictures of his encounter with the Pakistani general on Sunday. However, the image of Yunus presenting a book titled ‘Art of Triumph,’ featuring a distorted map of Bangladesh on the cover, to Mirza sparked controversy. The map portrayed a portion of India’s Northeast as part of Bangladesh, aligning with demands from radical Islamist factions for a “Greater Bangladesh.”
Following the social media post, analysts, politicians, and journalists criticized Yunus for intruding into India’s sovereign territory without invitation. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not yet responded to the issue, while some pro-Bangladeshi individuals claimed that the image was a painting of the national flag rather than a map.
This event comes amidst improved Bangladesh-Pakistan relations since Yunus assumed office in August 2024 after the Awami League regime led by Sheikh Hasina fell during a violent student protest.
Yunus has previously made multiple references to India’s northeast in his foreign engagements, causing discontent in India. During his initial trip to China in April, Yunus upset New Delhi by asserting that Bangladesh was the sole guardian of the ocean for the region, as the northeastern states of India were landlocked. He urged China to enhance its influence in the area and boost its economy.
India’s connectivity to the northeast, via the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor in North Bengal, has been a challenge. Over the past decade, New Delhi successfully collaborated with Dhaka on transit routes in the region, but under Yunus’ leadership, ties with Bangladesh have deteriorated as Dhaka seeks closer relations with Pakistan and China.
Yunus’s statements sparked outrage in India, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasizing the strategic importance of India’s northeast as a key connectivity hub for the Bimstec group. India also annulled a transhipment agreement permitting Bangladeshi goods to pass through Indian territory en route to Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
Tensions escalated further in May after a close aide of Yunus suggested that Bangladesh should cooperate with China to seize India’s northeastern states in case of an Indian attack on Pakistan. This suggestion by Major General (retd) Fazlur Rahman followed the Pahalgam attack by Pakistani terrorists that resulted in 26 casualties.
In 2024, another associate of Yunus, Nahidul Islam, proposed the concept of “Greater Bangladesh” by sharing a map showing parts of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam as part of Bangladesh. Despite such controversial actions and remarks from Bangladeshi leaders, Yunus has remained silent, leading experts to suggest that his repeated mentions of India’s northeast may indicate an attempt to manipulate regional dynamics amidst strengthening ties with China and Pakistan.