India has lodged a formal protest with Bangladesh over a recent social media post by Adviser Mahfuz Alam, which featured a map of Bangladesh that included parts of Indian territory.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed the protest during a press briefing on Friday. "We have registered our strong protest on this issue with the Bangladesh side. We understand that the post in question has reportedly been taken down," Jaiswal said, as reported by The Hindustan Times.
Jaiswal emphasized the importance of responsible public communication, stating, "We would like to remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments. Such remarks underline the need for responsibility in public articulation."
He further reiterated India's commitment to fostering strong relations with Bangladesh and its interim government. "While India has repeatedly signaled its interest in strengthening ties with the people and government of Bangladesh, such comments do not align with the spirit of our relationship," he added.
In his social media post that he subsequently withdrew following widespread backlash, Mahfuz Alam highlighted cultural similarities between Bangladesh and parts of India, which he claimed, transcend religious differences. He also shared a map portraying the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam aligning Bangladesh.
