India Condemns bangladeshi Official’s Territorial Claim
India has lodged a formal protest with bangladesh following a controversial social media post by a top aide to the interim government. The post, as deleted, asserted that parts of India should be incorporated into Bangladeshi territory. The incident further exacerbates already tense relations between the two nations.
Mahfuz Alam, a de facto minister in the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, shared a map on Facebook depicting portions of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam as belonging to Bangladesh. This provocative action sparked immediate backlash and prompted Alam to remove the post.
Responding to the incident, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued a statement. “We have taken this up with the Bangladeshi government. We have strongly registered a protest on this issue.We understand that the post being referred to has reportedly been taken down,” Jaiswal stated. He added, “We would like to remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments. While India has repeatedly signalled interest in fostering relations with the people and the interim government of Bangladesh, such comments underline the need for obligation in public articulation.”
The current strain in India-Bangladesh relations stems from the interim government’s ascension to power in August. This followed the resignation and departure to india of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst widespread anti-government protests. The lack of a clear election timeline, with Yunus suggesting a date sometime between late 2025 and early 2026, further complicates matters.
Jaiswal emphasized India’s commitment to a stable and democratic Bangladesh. “We have very clearly defined our approach towards our ties with Bangladesh. We have said that we support a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh,” he explained.He further reiterated India’s desire for a constructive relationship built on mutual respect and understanding, highlighting India’s advancement cooperation efforts aimed at benefiting the Bangladeshi people.
Yunus’s suggestion to host the stalled SAARC summit in Bangladesh, following a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Cairo, also drew comment. Jaiswal stated, “Our efforts have been to boost regional cooperation. We want to move forward with platforms like BIMSTEC,” adding, “SAARC is another platform…You know why cooperation under SAARC is not moving forward.” The SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit has been stalled since 2016 due to political tensions, primarily between india and Pakistan.
In recent years, India has actively promoted BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) as an option platform for regional cooperation, given the challenges facing SAARC.
