Bangladesh Continues With NE Dreams; Now, Shadowy Islamist Outfit Talks of Greater Bangladesh With NE India

The maps bear the banner of 'Sultanate-e-Bangla,' a newly formed Islamist radical group reportedly enjoying support from a Turkish NGO.

The security establishment and analysis in India are forming with interest the sudden appearance of controversial maps at Dhaka University. These maps, plastered on the university’s walls, depict a so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ encompassing Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, the northeastern states of India, and Myanmar’s Rakhine (Arakan) province.

The maps bear the banner of ‘Sultanate-e-Bangla,’ a newly formed Islamist radical group reportedly enjoying support from a Turkish NGO.

The radical group, Sultanate-e-Bangla, has surfaced amid significant political shifts in Bangladesh, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The group has reportedly received backing from a Turkish NGO, raising concerns over foreign interference. Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), has long supported Islamist movements in Bangladesh, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, which was an ally of the Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). This historical connection has heightened fears of a coordinated effort to destabilise India’s sensitive northeastern region.

Türkiye-Pakistan Collaboration Raises Security Red Flags

Türkiye’s involvement in Bangladesh’s radical turn is viewed through a broader strategic lens, as Ankara has increasingly aligned itself with Pakistan against India. During the recent India-Pakistan escalations, Türkiye openly supported Pakistan, including reports of Turkish drones being deployed by Pakistan against Indian forces. There have been reports of at least two Turkish drone operators being killed in Pakistan during the Indian assault. This military and ideological collaboration adds a critical dimension to the emerging Sultanate-e-Bangla threat, potentially turning Bangladesh into a new front for anti-India activities.

Besides, reports from Dhaka indicate that a four-member team of senior officials from the Pakistani Army and the ISI arrived in Rangpur in January, following an invitation by Bangladesh Army’s Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of Armed Forces Division, Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan, who visited Islamabad earlier. The Pakistani delegation reportedly included ISI chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, along with Major General Alam Amir Awan and Major General Shahid Amir Afsar. The presence of high-ranking officials signals deepening military cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The ISI officials’ visit to Bangladesh came just days after a six-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by Lt Gen SM Kamrul Hasan, completed a four-day visit to Pakistan in January, where they reportedly met with Pakistan’s top military leadership in Rawalpindi, including Army Chief General Asim Munir.

India’s northeastern region, a strategic and sensitive area, finds itself at the heart of this emerging threat. This region, connected to the rest of India by the narrow Siliguri Corridor, is already vulnerable to external influence due to its complex ethnic dynamics and porous borders. The emergence of Sultanate-e-Bangla, with its provocative territorial dreams, adds a fresh security challenge, threatening to inflame separatist sentiments and disrupt the fragile peace in the region.

Qatar’s Role in the Emerging Nexus

Adding to this complex regional matrix is the role of Qatar, which maintains close ties with Türkiye and has a history of supporting radical Islamist groups. During a recent visit to Qatar, Bangladesh’s interim leader Mohammad Yunus received a warm welcome, further cementing his ties with the Gulf state. Qatar, known for hosting groups like Hamas, has emerged as a key player in this evolving equation, potentially providing financial and ideological support to radical elements in Bangladesh. This growing nexus between Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, with Bangladesh as a critical link, is viewed as a direct front, inimical to India.

India’s Countermeasures and Strategic Response

In response, India has stepped up security along the Siliguri Corridor and other vulnerable points, while also tightening economic measures against the Yunus-led regime. India has cut off transhipment facilities and imposed stricter controls on Bangladeshi imports through land ports, signaling its readiness to exert economic pressure. Military preparedness has also been heightened, with Indian forces closely monitoring developments across the border.

The political situation in Bangladesh remains fluid, with Yunus refusing to hold general elections despite calls from the military and international community for a return to democratic governance. The recent ban on the Awami League, the long-time ruling party led by Sheikh Hasina, has further complicated the domestic landscape, potentially creating fertile ground for radical groups like Sultanate-e-Bangla to expand their influence.

As Bangladesh navigates this turbulent political phase, India’s northeastern region remains a critical frontline in the broader strategic context involving Turkey, Pakistan, and other regional players. For India, the stakes are high, and its ability to secure this sensitive region will be crucial in countering the rising tide of radicalism spilling over its eastern borders.

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