External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar revealed that an Islamist group in Dhaka, ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, allegedly backed by the Turkish NGO ‘Turkish Youth Federation’, has promoted a controversial ‘Greater Bangladesh’ map that includes parts of India. Responding to Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala’s question in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar noted the map was displayed at Dhaka University during a Pohela Boishakh exhibition on April 14, 2025.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that Bangladesh’s fact-checking platform, ‘BanglaFact’, denied the existence of ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ and clarified the map referenced the historical Bengal Sultanate, with organizers rejecting links to foreign entities. Jaishankar emphasized that India is closely monitoring developments impacting national security and taking necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

Surjewala pressed the government on whether it has diplomatically raised the issue with Bangladesh and assessed the security risks posed by growing Turkish and Pakistani engagement in the region. The controversy has heightened concerns about foreign-backed ideological campaigns in Bangladesh amid strained India-Bangladesh ties.

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