India’s national security apparatus has intensified surveillance on certain Turkish NGOs operating from Bangladesh, raising alarms over their alleged role in advancing expansionist territorial claims that threaten India’s sovereignty, especially in the sensitive northeastern region. This development follows a recent move by India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to revoke security clearance of the Turkish aviation company Celebi Airport Services, operating at key Indian airports. Now, the focus shifts beyond aviation security to geopolitical concerns related to radical Islamist organizations and their potential to destabilize the region.

The ‘Greater Bangladesh’ Claim and Saltanat-e-Bangla

One of the most alarming developments is the emergence of a radical Islamist group named ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ which has publicly exhibited a territorial map dubbed ‘Greater Bangladesh’. Unlike previous Rohingya or Arakan nationalist claims confined to Bangladesh and Myanmar’s Arakan region, this map controversially extends claims into major Indian mainland states including parts of the Northeast (like Assam), Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha. This marks a significant escalation as it threatens Indian territorial integrity and highlights the urgency for a strategic response.

Government sources have revealed that this movement is believed to be supported by NGOs linked to Turkey’s ruling party, Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP), indicating a geopolitical dimension to the issue. Specifically, the Turkish NGO IHH (İnsan Hak ve Hürriyetleri ve İnsani Yardım Vakfı), translated as the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief, has drawn attention. The IHH has had a long presence in Bangladesh since the 1990s, working closely with the Rohingya refugee population sheltered there.

Concerns Over Radicalization and Terror Links

Indian intelligence suspects that IHH has exploited its access to radicalize sections of the Rohingya community. This concern is supported by international reports such as from NGO Monitor, which notes IHH’s membership in the “Union of the Good,” a coalition labeled by the U.S. government as a fundraising front for Hamas, a designated terrorist group. Such links raise questions about the NGO’s true agenda and potential threats to India’s northeastern borders.

The Role of Turkish Think Tanks and Propaganda

Further compounding the issue, the ‘Turkish Century’ think tank—based in Turkey and advocating the strategic vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—has promoted the ‘Greater Bangladesh’ narrative on social media. It tweeted a photo mirroring Saltanat-e-Bangla’s map with the tagline “It’s time to make Bangladesh great again,” echoing Donald Trump’s MAGA slogan. The tweet included flags of Bangladesh, Turkey, and Pakistan, suggesting a trilateral ideological axis.

Kanchan Gupta, senior advisor to India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, condemned the think tank’s activities, describing it as a Muslim-oriented organization spreading Erdoğan’s regional ambitions while collaborating with extremist groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir and Islamist elements in Bangladesh. Shortly after Gupta’s tweet, the think tank’s website went offline, claiming to be under maintenance, which many saw as a reaction to the backlash.

Strategic Response from Assam and India

The concern over ‘Greater Bangladesh’ is not merely academic but has triggered direct political responses. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a sharp warning, without naming any country directly, to Bangladesh and its supporters. He underscored the strategic importance of two narrow corridors—North Bangladesh Corridor (from Dakhin Dinajpur to South West Garo Hills) and Chittagong Corridor (from south Tripura to the Bay of Bengal)—which serve as vital links for Bangladesh’s economic and political centers.

Sarma’s warning hinted at India’s readiness to counter any attempts to destabilize or encroach upon these border areas. His strong language and the political green signal behind it reflect India’s shift to prioritize security and geopolitical vigilance in its eastern frontier after consolidating focus on western borders.

Geopolitical Implications and National Security

India’s concerns over Turkish NGOs and their potential role in fomenting unrest or demographic changes in border states come amid broader geopolitical tensions. The idea of creating a “lebensraum” or living space through illegal migration and radicalization highlights fears of demographic engineering in sensitive regions.

India’s strategic emphasis is clear: safeguarding the Northeast from external ideological, territorial, and demographic threats linked to Bangladesh and its backers. This aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance border security, monitor non-governmental actors with political motives, and counter regional narratives that undermine India’s sovereignty.

Conclusion

The Indian government’s surveillance of Turkish NGOs operating in Bangladesh signals a cautious but firm stance against external actors perceived to be meddling in India’s internal security and territorial integrity. The ‘Greater Bangladesh’ narrative propagated by radical groups with foreign backing represents a complex challenge intertwining security, immigration, and geopolitical strategy.

As India fortifies its eastern borders, voices like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s underline the criticality of vigilance against attempts to redraw maps and influence regional demographics. The ongoing scrutiny of NGOs like IHH and think tanks such as Turkish Century reflects a multi-layered approach to securing India’s interests against evolving threats on the eastern frontier.

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