India objects to wrong map uploaded by key aide in Yunus regime

India has lodged a strong protest with Dhaka over a now-deleted social media post by a key aide of Bangladesh’s interim government that claimed certain areas of Indian territory should be part of the neighbouring country.

Mahfuz Alam, known for his provocative comments, had posted on Facebook four days ago a map purportedly showing parts of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam as parts of Bangladesh. He deleted the post after it triggered backlash.

Alam is a de facto minister in the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh. Reacting strongly to the post, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday reminded all concerned to be “mindful” of their public comments.

“We have taken this up with the Bangladeshi government. We have strongly registered a protest on this issue. We understand that the post being referred to has reportedly been taken down,” the spokesperson said.

“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,” he said.

The relations between India and Bangladesh are reeling under severe strain after the interim government headed by Yunus came to power in August.

Yunus assumed the charge as the head of the interim dispensation days after the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post and fled to India in the face of a massive anti-government protest.