Modi Expresses Desire for Positive Relationship with Bangladesh After Hasina’s Ousting
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a regional summit in Thailand on Friday.
According to press statements, Yunus described his meeting with Modi as “constructive, productive, and fruitful,” highlighting discussions on bilateral issues and future cooperation.
Yunus assumed his role as the caretaker government’s leader in August 2024, following a student-led uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina, a leader known for her strong ties with India.
Her removal strained Bangladesh-India relations, with Bangladesh subsequently strengthening its ties with China and Pakistan, India’s rivals.
Despite this, Modi and Yunus appeared amicable during their meeting, engaging in smiling exchanges and a handshake, signaling a potential thaw in relations.
India’s foreign ministry confirmed Modi’s commitment to supporting a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh, emphasizing a desire for a “positive and constructive” relationship based on pragmatism.
However, Modi also raised India’s concerns about alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, a point of contention for Dhaka, which views these claims as exaggerated.
Yunus, in turn, addressed concerns about Sheikh Hasina’s controversial remarks from her exile in India, a long-standing issue between the two countries.
Public sentiment in Bangladesh has shifted negatively towards India, partly due to New Delhi’s decision to provide sanctuary to Hasina, who faces charges including the killing of hundreds of protesters, as per reports of unrest-related incidents.
India has not yet responded to Dhaka’s requests for her extradition, and Modi and Yunus discussed this matter during their meeting, with no immediate resolution announced.
Harsh Pant, a foreign policy expert from the Observer Research Foundation, views the encounter as a beginning towards rebuilding engagement between the two nations.
Pant suggests prioritizing the stabilization of diplomatic relations at present, given the historical closeness between India and Bangladesh.
