Yunus’s gift sparks uproar — a map, a visit and frayed trust with India

In Dhaka, interim leader Muhammad Yunus set off a diplomatic uproar after handing Pakistani General Sahir Shamshad Mirza a book whose cover carried a striking image: a map that merges Assam and India’s northeastern states into Bangladesh. The depiction instantly drew sharp criticism from across India and beyond, turning a routine visit into one of the most sensitive flashpoints between the two neighbours and spotlighting Yunus’s deepening ties with Pakistan and China.

The episode unfolded during General Mirza’s official stop in the capital when Yunus presented Art of Triumph as a token. Attention quickly fixed on the book’s artwork — a reshaped map evoking the contested notion of a “Greater Bangladesh.” The image spread rapidly on social media, prompting widespread condemnation and heated debate. Analysts warned the gesture sends a risky political message at a moment when Dhaka appears to be reorienting its external partnerships.

This is not an isolated moment. Earlier this year, during a trip to China, Yunus referred to Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” for India’s landlocked northeast, implying that the region could be tied into China’s economic reach through Bangladesh. Those comments have unnerved officials in New Delhi, who view them as an indirect challenge to India’s territorial integrity in the northeast.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not yet put out a formal response, but officials in New Delhi are reportedly watching developments closely. Tensions have risen since Yunus assumed interim leadership in 2024 after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government; trade and transit arrangements that were strong under Hasina now coexist with an unmistakable tilt in Dhaka’s engagements toward Islamabad and Beijing.

Regional analysts caution that such provocative imagery risks destabilising an already fragile balance in South Asia. Reintroducing the idea of a “Greater Bangladesh,” a theme previously championed by fringe elements, could alienate India and push Dhaka toward diplomatic isolation. Some observers suggest the incident may signal a broader realignment, drawing China, Pakistan and Bangladesh into a closer strategic orbit.

Calls for explanations and accountability have intensified. Indian commentators are urging Dhaka for an immediate clarification and a firm diplomatic reply from New Delhi, while social media has erupted in condemnation, branding the gesture “provocative,” “unacceptable” and “an affront” to India’s sovereignty.

Whether the map was a diplomatic misstep or an intentional provocation, the episode has altered perceptions of trust between Bangladesh and India. Beyond the lines on a cover, the incident underscores shifting allegiances and growing unease over the future shape of regional relations.