A piece of artwork titled ‘Art of Triumph,’ presented by Bangladesh’s Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to a visiting Turkish parliamentary delegation, is at the center of a growing regional diplomatic issue. The artwork, which reportedly outlines a ‘Greater Bangladesh’ including Indian territory, had previously been shown to a senior Pakistani military official. Intelligence sources suggest the document contained strategic elements beyond its artistic presentation, allegedly including ‘battle plans’ and ‘post-victory management’ strategies for integrating Assam into Dhaka’s sphere of influence.
This same ‘artwork,’ depicting an expanded Bangladesh encompassing India’s northeastern states, particularly Assam, was also presented to Nurul Izzah Anwar of Malaysia and representatives of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Observers believe these gestures were deliberate communications to transnational Islamist networks, aligning with perceptions of the interim Bangladeshi leadership as part of a broader strategic consolidation.
The timing of these presentations aligns with Turkey’s increasing engagement in South and Southeast Asia, marked by military cooperation, drone technology exports, and ideological partnerships. Since early 2024, Turkey and Bangladesh have deepened their relationship through joint training programs, defense collaborations, and technology investments. For Turkey, Bangladesh offers a strategic position to counterbalance India’s regional power, while for Bangladesh’s interim government, these ties provide international legitimacy and new defense avenues during a period of instability.
This ‘Greater Bangladesh’ reference is being interpreted by analysts as the first overt territorial ambition articulated by Dhaka’s interim government, possibly intended to gauge regional responses and consolidate ideological backing from Islamist groups. India’s security agencies are reportedly monitoring the situation closely, concerned that this rhetoric could lead to heightened tensions in a sensitive border area.