A controversial map of “Greater Bangladesh” allegedly backed by Turkish NGOs and linked to the Muslim Brotherhood has surfaced in Dhaka University, depicting parts of India and Myanmar as Bangladeshi territory. Learn how this ideology-driven movement threatens South Asia’s stability.
Recently, Turkish NGOs associated with Erdogan’s administration have circulated a controversial map promoting the idea of a “Greater Bangladesh.” This map has been actively shared across Bangladeshi universities, including Dhaka University, where it was showcased at the Teacher-Student Centre.
The map suggests an expanded Bangladesh that includes Indian states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the entire Northeast region, along with parts of Myanmar’s Rakhine state. This blatant cartographic aggression raises serious concerns for India and other South Asian countries.
Strategic Ideology Behind the Map
This isn’t an isolated incident. Analysts believe it’s a calculated ideological operation backed by the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist organization. The Brotherhood’s ideology rejects modern political boundaries and aims for a pan-Islamic caliphate.
Such a narrative is extremely dangerous for India, which sees this as an emerging security threat. Turkey’s ruling AKP party, under President Erdogan, has supported these revanchist ideas through allied NGOs. This strategy seems to be a response to India’s economic and diplomatic boycott of Turkey in recent years.
India’s Boycott of Turkey and Repercussions
India had already begun distancing itself from Turkey due to Erdogan’s repeated anti-India statements. Indian citizens boycotted Turkish tourism and products, followed by institutional bans from universities like JNU and IIT Bombay. Airlines and Turkish brands faced backlash. In retaliation, Turkish interest groups are allegedly turning to ideological warfare.
Role of Turkish NGOs in Bangladesh
Several Turkish-funded NGOs are now active in Bangladesh’s educational and religious institutions. Key players include:
- TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) – Operating under Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, active since 2014 in Bangladesh.
- Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) – Promotes Islamic cultural exchange and engages Bangladeshi youth.
- Diyanet Foundation – Operates under Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, funding mosques and madrasas and promoting a hardline Islamic ideology.
These NGOs are accused of “Islamizing” young minds and subtly pushing separatist ideologies like Sultanate Bangla.
Emergence of Sultanate Bangla Movement
The Sultanate Bangla movement claims historical legitimacy from the old Bengal Sultanate, aiming to “revive” territories once ruled under it. It promotes a revivalist narrative that attracts youth across Bangladesh—and potentially India—towards a dangerous form of ideological nationalism cloaked in religion.
The movement has found support not only in Dhaka but also in the broader network of affiliated student and youth organizations. These groups disseminate the idea that Muslims should unite under one Islamic banner, transcending national borders.
Geopolitical Vacuum and Brotherhood’s Expansion
Following reforms by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), funding to global madrasas and mosques promoting Salafi ideology has significantly reduced. This has created a vacuum in regions like Bangladesh, which is now being filled by Turkish and Qatari influences, both of which support the Muslim Brotherhood.
Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami—long suspected of Brotherhood links—is again gaining traction. Political developments, including the rise of Yunus and the release of hardline Jamaat factions once labeled terrorists, hint at deeper Brotherhood connections.
Muslim Brotherhood’s Ultimate Agenda
The Muslim Brotherhood promotes the rejection of democracy and national boundaries in favor of an Islamic Caliphate. Their strategy typically begins by Islamizing society through grassroots religious indoctrination. Once enough societal support is built, they push for unification under a global Islamic state governed by Sharia law.
This ideology has already been visible in groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir, which held a “March for Caliphate” in 2025 demanding the establishment of a single Islamic flag above all Muslim territories. The Sultanate Bangla map and its narrative are aligned with the same ideological blueprint.
Conclusion: A Warning Sign for South Asia
The expansionist vision promoted by the “Greater Bangladesh” map and Sultanate Bangla movement is not merely symbolic. It is a political and ideological tool backed by external forces like Turkey and Qatar, aiming to influence minds and redraw boundaries through soft power and ideological indoctrination.
India, and indeed all democratic nations in South Asia, must take this seriously. Strategic awareness, counter-narratives, and international cooperation are essential to protect the region’s sovereignty from such ideological threats.
