Bangladesh takes steps to address China’s concerns over textbooks, map

Bangladesh has said it has taken measures to address some objections raised by China regarding two Bangladeshi textbooks and the map displayed on the website of the Survey of Bangladesh.

The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka informed Bangladesh through a diplomatic note on November 28, 2024, about China’s objections to the map used in the textbook, the inconsistency of the data, and a boundary line mentioned in the Survey of Bangladesh, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam told reporters at a media briefing on Thursday.

In view of this, he said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the authorities concerned to review the matter and take necessary measures.

Alam said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in regular contact with the authorities concerned regarding the progress of the matter.

Beijing, as reported by media, asserted that in addition to this “factual discrepancy”, both the textbooks and the survey department’s website have incorrectly portrayed Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate countries instead of recognising them as part of China.