Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has again caused a diplomatic controversy by making remarks and gestures related to India’s northeastern region. This time, he sparked anger after giving a Pakistani military officer a book with a map that incorrectly shows Assam and other northeastern states of India as part of Bangladesh.

The incident happened when Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, visited Dhaka over the weekend. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have been tense for decades because of the 1971 Liberation War, but since Yunus took charge in August 2024, the two sides have been trying to improve ties

Yunus posted pictures of his meeting with the Pakistani general on social media. In one picture, he is seen presenting a book titled “Art of Triumph.” The cover of the book displays a distorted map of Bangladesh that includes all seven states of India’s northeast. This map resembles the concept of “Greater Bangladesh,” which is promoted by some radical groups.

The picture led to criticism online, with many accusing Yunus of interfering in India’s sovereignty. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not yet commented on the issue. This is not the first time Yunus has made statements about India’s northeast. In the past few months, he has repeatedly referred to the region in foreign discussions.

During his visit to China in April, he told Chinese leaders that India’s northeastern states were “landlocked” and that Bangladesh acted as their only connection to the sea. He encouraged China to use this to grow its influence and economic reach into the region.

India does face connectivity challenges with its northeast, which is linked to the mainland through a narrow area known as the “Chicken’s Neck” in West Bengal. Over the past ten years, India has worked closely with Bangladesh, under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to improve transport and trade routes. 

However, relations between the two countries have become strained since Yunus came to power after widespread student protests forced Hasina’s government to step down. Yunus’s actions and statements are raising concerns in India, especially as Bangladesh appears to be strengthening its ties with Pakistan and China. The latest map controversy has added to the growing tension and has been viewed as a direct challenge to India’s territorial integrity.