Diplomatic Correspondent :
The interim government of Bangladesh has made a diplomatic request to India for a formal meeting between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand.
However, Indian media has reported that such a meeting is unlikely.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects that the Yunus-Modi meeting will take place at the summit, scheduled for 3-4 April in Bangkok.
However, an Indian media outlet reported on Friday that the meeting would not occur beyond a brief encounter or exchange of pleasantries.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Friday that there were no updates regarding the proposed meeting.
Since the formation of Bangladesh’s Interim Government following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s administration in a mass uprising in July last year, Professor Yunus has repeatedly sought a formal meeting with Narendra Modi, but these attempts have not materialised.
Bilateral relations between the two countries have continued to deteriorate.
During the United Nations General Assembly in September last year, Professor Yunus attempted to hold formal talks with Modi, but no meeting took place.
He also sought a group photo of SAARC leaders to mark his diplomatic presence, but the session did not happen.
Despite these setbacks, Bangladesh remains hopeful that a meeting between the two leaders will occur on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, as both are scheduled to attend.
However, the Hindustan Times, citing three unnamed sources close to the matter, reported that the current state of bilateral relations does not favour a meeting between the top leaders of Bangladesh and India.
According to the report, the political climate remains strained, with unresolved tensions hindering the possibility of formal discussions.
The sources stated, “An encounter or exchange of pleasantries cannot be ruled out, as all the leaders attending the summit will be in each other’s company on several occasions, but nothing more is expected.”
One source told the Indian media outlet, “A formal meeting seems difficult, especially given the frequent anti-India rhetoric from some members of the Interim Government in Dhaka.
These conditions are not conducive to a high-level meeting.”
In addition to political tensions, India has expressed concerns over alleged attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
The Interim Government has refuted these claims, stating that while some minor incidents have occurred, they are not widespread and similar issues existed during the transition period following Hasina’s departure.
The US State Department, on Wednesday, praised the Yunus-led government for its efforts to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens, including minority communities in Bangladesh.
Relations between Bangladesh and India began to decline soon after the end of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, as she took refuge in Delhi.
The Interim Government has since formally requested her extradition, citing multiple charges, including culpable homicide. However, India has yet to respond to the diplomatic request.
Bilateral relations have further deteriorated due to disputes over border fencing, alleged violations of international agreements, and the deaths of Bangladeshi citizens along the border.
Additionally, India has expressed unease over Bangladesh’s increasing diplomatic engagements with Pakistan since Hasina’s departure.
On Thursday, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Hossain, told ANI, “We have made a diplomatic approach to India to arrange a bilateral meeting between our two leaders on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit.”
However, the Indian MEA maintained on Friday that there was no update on the meeting. When asked about its possibility, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “I do not have any update to share at this point in time.”
Earlier, on 16 February, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Foreign Minister Hossain on the margins of the Indian Ocean Conference in Oman, where they discussed bilateral ties and cooperation within the BIMSTEC framework.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
