External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the Government has taken note of reports that an Islamist group in Dhaka, Saltanat-e-Bangla, has released a map of a so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India.
Jaishankar added that the group is reportedly backed by a Turkish NGO, the Turkish Youth Federation, and the map was displayed at Dhaka University.
“The Government has taken note of reports that an Islamist group in Dhaka called the ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, backed by a Turkish NGO called the ‘Turkish Youth Federation’, has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. The map was displayed in the Dhaka University,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs quoted Jaishankar as saying.
Jaishankar said this in a written reply to Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala’s starred question in the Rajya Sabha.
Jaishankar said the map in question was displayed at a historical exhibition at Dhaka University, in reference to the so-called earlier Bengal Sultanate.
“The Government of Bangladesh fact-checker platform, ‘BanglaFact’, claimed that there is no evidence of ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ operating in Bangladesh. It further clarified that the ‘map’ was displayed at a historical exhibition in reference to the so-called earlier Bengal Sultanate. The exhibition was held at Dhaka University on the occasion of Pohela Boisakh on April 14, 2025. The organizers of the exhibition, however, denied connections with any foreign political entity,” the statement added.
“India remains focused in regard to Bangladesh on matters of national interest. The Government of India closely monitors all developments that have implications for India’s national security and continues to take all necessary measures to safeguard it,” MEA said in the statement.
Surjewala had sought details on whether the government was aware of the emergence of a Turkish-backed radical group in Bangladesh that is involved in promoting a ‘Greater Bangladesh’ map incorporating parts of Indian territory.
He also asked whether the government has taken up the issue diplomatically with the governments of Bangladesh and/or Turkey, and if yes, the details thereof.
Additionally, he questioned whether the government has assessed the security implications of the growing involvement of Turkey and Pakistan in Bangladesh, and what steps have been taken in this regard.
