Bangladesh Leader Yunus Gifts Map Sparking India Row
A controversy has erupted after Bangladesh’s interim head Muhammad Yunus presented a gift to Pakistan’s armed forces chief, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, which included a map depicting parts of northeastern India — including the state of Assam — as part of Bangladesh. The gift was handed over during the general’s visit to Dhaka.
Gesture and reaction
The map was on the cover of a book titled Art of Triumph, which Yunus presented to General Mirza. The illustration depicted India’s northeastern region as being incorporated into Bangladesh’s territory. The image immediately drew sharp criticism in India, where the depiction was seen as a challenge to Indian sovereignty and stirred protests in Assam.
Diplomatic fallout
Indian officials and political leaders have condemned the gesture, calling it provocative. The incident adds tension to already sensitive India-Bangladesh relations, particularly in the context of longstanding border and migration issues. Bangladesh’s interim government has not publicly clarified the rationale behind the map.
Significance
Observers say that such symbolic gestures can inflame nationalist reactions and complicate bilateral dialogue. New Delhi will view the incident as more than symbolic, given its implications for territorial integrity. Unless Dhaka offers formal clarification or apology, the matter may overshadow broader efforts at cooperation between the two countries.
