Islamist group backed by Turkish NGO behind 'Greater Bangladesh' map: Jaishankar says India has taken note

The Indian government has taken note of a controversial map of a so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India, which was displayed at an exhibition at Dhaka University, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has confirmed, as per a report.

In a written statement responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha from Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, Jaishankar said the government was aware of reports that an Islamist group named ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, allegedly backed by a Turkish NGO called the 'Turkish Youth Federation', had put out the map.

However, the statement also included the official response from Bangladesh.

According to the MEA, the Bangladeshi government's fact-checker platform, ‘BanglaFact’, has claimed there is no evidence of ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ operating in the country. It further clarified that the map displayed at the exhibition on April 14 was a historical reference to the earlier Bengal Sultanate, not a modern political statement. The exhibition organizers also denied any connections with foreign political entities.

Jaishankar’s statement came in direct response to Surjewala’s query about the radical group and the security implications of increased Turkish and Pakistani engagement with India's eastern neighbour.

The EAM assured that the government is "closely monitoring developments that have implications for India’s national security and continues to take all necessary measures to safeguard it."