• Source:JND
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India has raised a strong protest with Dhaka over controversial remarks made by Mahfuz Alam, a key aide in Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, Alam suggested that India should recognise the uprising that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Alam, who previously served as a "special assistant" to Muhammad Yunus, currently holds the position of ‘Adviser’ in Bangladesh’s interim government.

On Victory Day, celebrated on December 16 to commemorate Bangladesh’s triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 Liberation War, Mahfuz Alam issued provocative remarks, including a threat to annex parts of India. He also attempted to stoke tensions in Northeast and Northern India by highlighting cultural differences and shared histories between these regions and Bangladesh.

Alam released a controversial map that depicted West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam as parts of Bangladesh. The post, which sparked widespread backlash, was deleted within hours.

In his post, Alam claimed that the cultures of Northeast India and Bangladesh were deeply intertwined, transcending religious differences. He alleged that the creation of East Pakistan was the result of what he termed the “anti-Bengal attitude” of upper-caste Hindus and “Hindu extremists.” Alam wrote, “India has adopted a program of control and colonisation. To ensure true freedom from India, we need to repeat 1975 and 2024.”

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Alam further referenced historical events, stating, “In 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 18 members of his family were assassinated. In 2024, his daughter Sheikh Hasina was removed from the prime ministerial post through undemocratic means. Despite a 50-year gap, nothing has changed. We remain trapped in geography and systems. We now need a new geography and system.”

In response to these remarks, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed strong disapproval. During the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have registered our strong protest on this issue with the Bangladesh side. We understand that the post being referred to has reportedly been taken down.”

Jaiswal added, “We would like to remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments. While India has repeatedly signalled interest in fostering relations with the people and the interim government of Bangladesh, such comments underline the need for responsibility in public articulation.”