Modi and Yunus Hold First Meeting After Hasina’s Departure
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, marking their first official discussion since the departure of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year, according to Bangladesh’s government press office.
Hasina’s tenure saw strong bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh. However, relations have been strained following her exile in August amid widespread student-led protests. She later sought refuge in India.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who assumed the role of chief adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government after Hasina’s removal, engaged in discussions with Modi at the regional summit. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) includes Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh.
On Friday, Yunus shared a photograph on social media where he and Modi were seen shaking hands. His press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, described the conversation as “constructive, productive, and meaningful.” Yunus also gifted Modi a framed picture of their previous meeting in 2015 when the Indian Prime Minister awarded him a gold medal for his contributions to microfinance and poverty alleviation.
New Delhi has yet to release an official statement on the meeting.
According to Yunus’ press secretary, discussions included Bangladesh’s longstanding concerns over Hasina’s statements from exile. Dhaka has formally requested India’s assistance in extraditing Hasina to face charges related to alleged human rights violations during the protests that led to her removal.
Border security was another key topic, with Yunus raising concerns over ongoing tensions along the shared frontier, as well as disputes regarding the equitable distribution of transboundary river waters, particularly from the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers.
India has previously expressed concerns over the treatment of its Hindu minority in Bangladesh, claiming increased targeting since Yunus took office. Dhaka, however, denies these allegations, asserting that the incidents are not religiously motivated.
Foreign policy expert Harsh Pant of the Observer Research Foundation stated, “This meeting could be the first step toward stabilizing the strained relations between the two nations. At this stage, restoring engagement should be the primary focus.”
Modi and Yunus had also attended a formal dinner on Thursday night, sitting beside each other along with other BIMSTEC leaders. However, Friday’s bilateral meeting marked the first substantive dialogue between the two nations since diplomatic tensions escalated.
India and Bangladesh share deep cultural and economic ties, along with a 4,000-kilometer (2,500-mile) border, making their relationship crucial for regional stability.
