Odisha in the Crosshairs of a Controversial Expansionist Map
In a troubling development with far-reaching implications, Odisha has been prominently featured in a controversial “Greater Bangladesh” map allegedly circulated by a Turkey-backed Islamist group, ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, based in Dhaka. First spotted during Pohela Boishakh festivities at Dhaka University’s Teacher-Student Centre, the map lays claim not only to Odisha, but also Bihar, Jharkhand, the entire Northeast, and parts of Myanmar’s Rakhine region.
While the map may appear fringe, Indian strategic thinkers warn against underestimating its symbolic power. The fact that it has gained traction among some sections of Bangladeshi youth indicates a potentially coordinated ideological campaign. The inclusion of Odisha—a state with no historical, linguistic, or ethnic ties to Bangladesh—suggests a bold and aggressive attempt at territorial imagination, echoing larger regional designs.
Operation Sindoor and the Fraying India-Turkey Relationship
This episode comes against the backdrop of increasingly strained India-Turkey relations. Tensions escalated sharply following the launch of Operation Sindoor, India’s strategic initiative aimed at countering foreign interference and ideologically motivated subversion—particularly from nations aligned with Pakistan’s geopolitical agenda.
Turkey’s open support for Pakistan on Kashmir has drawn sharp criticism from New Delhi. Ankara’s statements at global forums and increasing engagement with South Asian Muslim nations have been viewed with suspicion in India. As a retaliatory measure, Indian authorities recently revoked the aviation license of Celebi Aviation, a major Turkish ground-handling firm.
In the Indian public sphere, calls for a boycott of Turkish goods and services have intensified, with growing sentiment that Ankara’s outreach in South Asia is more ideological than diplomatic. The “Greater Bangladesh” map controversy has only deepened these suspicions.
Bangladesh as Turkey’s New Outpost in South Asia
Previously focused on its alliance with Pakistan, Turkey under President Erdogan is now expanding its strategic footprint into Bangladesh. Reports suggest a steady increase in Turkish NGO activities, many with ideological affiliations to Turkey’s ruling AKP party, within Bangladeshi educational and civic institutions. Military cooperation is also on the rise.
Analysts believe that this triangle—Pakistan, Turkey, and Bangladesh—marks a new regional axis, ideologically aligned and strategically interconnected. Turkey’s ambitions in South Asia mirror a broader foreign policy shift toward building pan-Islamic solidarity, reminiscent of the Muslim Brotherhood model, with Dhaka emerging as a pivotal outpost.
Such developments hold particular relevance for states like Odisha, which are far removed from South Asia’s traditionally contested borderlands but are now being included in expansionist rhetoric.
The Ideological Undercurrent and India’s Strategic Response
The map’s circulation is more than a fringe provocation—it symbolizes the fusion of political ideology and territorial ambition. Expansionist narratives like “Greater Bangladesh” challenge India’s internal cohesion and border integrity in new and unpredictable ways.
India’s response has been calculated. Apart from port restrictions on certain Bangladeshi imports, New Delhi is bolstering infrastructure in the Northeast and fostering tighter national integration—especially in regions historically seen as peripheral. Odisha, a state historically outside the spotlight of such geopolitical disputes, may now find itself part of the strategic calculus.
Odisha as a Symbol of Larger Geopolitical Contest
The inclusion of Odisha in the so-called “Greater Bangladesh” map is not an accidental cartographic overreach—it is a deliberate ideological signal. It marks a concerning shift in how some regional actors envision South Asia’s future borders, influenced by distant yet ideologically aligned players like Turkey.
For India, and especially for Odisha, this incident underscores the need for constant vigilance. As geopolitical alliances mutate and ideological narratives gain traction, India must remain proactive—strengthening state-level awareness, enhancing regional diplomacy, and countering ideological infiltration across its eastern frontier. In this battle of influence, the integrity of maps is just as critical as the strength of borders.
(With agency inputs)
