Bangladesh’s interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, has sparked a fresh diplomatic row after reportedly gifting a controversial artwork titled “Art of Triumph” to Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, during the latter’s recent visit to Dhaka.
Sources familiar with the matter told News18 that Yunus presented the artwork — which reportedly depicts a controversial map — not to a civilian envoy but to Pakistan’s top general, a move they view as deliberate.
The sources allege that the act carries layered symbolic meaning, pointing to a covert alignment between Dhaka’s interim regime and Islamabad’s military establishment.
Intelligence sources told the Indian news channel that this was intended to signal Dhaka’s quiet endorsement of Pakistan’s long-standing anti-India narrative, at a time when both countries are accused of recalibrating their regional messaging under foreign influence.
General Mirza’s visit to Dhaka over the weekend marks a notable thaw in Bangladesh–Pakistan relations, which had remained strained since the 1971 Liberation War.
According to Yunus’s official account on X, both sides discussed bilateral trade, investment, and defence cooperation, along with prospects for enhanced connectivity.
General Mirza emphasized the “shared historical and cultural ties” between the two nations and expressed Pakistan’s willingness to strengthen collaboration across multiple sectors.
“Our two countries will support each other,” Mirza said, noting that a shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong has already commenced operations, while a Dhaka–Karachi air route is expected to open soon.
Yunus’s earlier controversial remarks
This latest episode follows Yunus’ earlier remarks during a visit to China, which went viral on social media. In the video, Yunus described India’s northeastern region — commonly known as the Seven Sisters — as a potential “extension” of the Chinese economy, citing its landlocked geography and strategic value for Beijing’s expansion.
Tensions between India and Bangladesh have intensified since the fall of the pro-Delhi Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, followed by a wave of anti-Hindu attacks in Bangladesh. After Hasina fled to India amid widespread unrest triggered by anti-quota protests, Yunus was appointed as chief advisor to the interim government.
