India Reacts to “Distorted Map” Gift Given by Dr. Yunus to Pakistan’s General
A gift presented by Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, during his recent visit to Bangladesh, has caused a stir in India, bringing the controversial issue of a “distorted” map of Bangladesh back into discussion.
Several Indian media outlets published reports claiming that “Professor Muhammad Yunus gifted the top Pakistani military official a flag with a distorted map of Bangladesh, including parts of India’s North-Eastern region.”
Question Raised at Indian Foreign Ministry
Indian journalist Gautam Lahiri recently raised this issue during a press briefing held by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Lahiri questioned: “During the visit of Pakistan’s Joint Forces Chief to Bangladesh, the Chief Advisor gifted a booklet of graffiti that included an illustration where parts of India’s North-Eastern region were incorporated into the map of Bangladesh. Does India support such an act, where a distorted map is included in a graffiti item that is part of a diplomatic protocol?”
In response, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Indian MEA, acknowledged the controversy:
Jaiswal stated: “We are aware that the book named ‘The Art of Triumph’ was compiled regarding the events of July 2024, and it contains some graffiti. We also believe that an explanation regarding this has already come from Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh’s Official Clarification
Jaiswal’s comment hinted at a statement released on the official fact-check page of the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing on Facebook.
• Rebuttal: The Press Wing asserted that the claim made by India Today and other outlets—that Dr. Muhammad Yunus gifted General Mirza a flag with a distorted map—is “completely false and fabricated.”
• The Actual Gift: The Press Wing clarified that Dr. Yunus presented the Pakistani General with ‘The Art of Triumph,’ a compilation book featuring colorful and diverse graffiti images drawn by students across Dhaka and the country during the July mass uprising.
• Conclusion: The statement confirmed that the book does not contain any distorted map.
