ISLAMABAD, April 04: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, on the sidelines of a regional summit in Bangkok on Friday, marking their first official interaction since the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year, according to the Bangladesh government’s press office.
Bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations, once strong under Hasina’s leadership, have soured following her departure from Bangladesh in August amid massive student-led protests.
The former prime minister sought refuge in India, a move that has contributed to public resentment in Bangladesh toward its larger neighbor.
Shifting Relations Between India and Bangladesh
Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, assumed office as chief adviser of the interim government in Dhaka following Hasina’s exit.
His meeting with Modi took place on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, which also brought together leaders from Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
Contentious Issues: Sheikh Hasina and Minority Rights
A key source of tension between the two nations has been India’s decision to provide refuge to Hasina, despite Dhaka’s formal request for her return to face trial.
New Delhi has yet to respond to these demands, further straining diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, India has urged Bangladesh to ensure the protection of its minority Hindu population, claiming that attacks on Hindus have increased since Yunus took charge.
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However, Bangladesh’s government has dismissed these concerns, arguing that the incidents are exaggerated and do not indicate widespread communal violence.
Diplomatic Outlook
Foreign policy expert Harsh Pant, from India’s Observer Research Foundation, emphasized the significance of the meeting, saying:
“The hope would be that this meeting starts the process of rebuilding engagement. At this stage, simply stabilizing the relationship should be the priority.”
With deep cultural and economic ties, India and Bangladesh share a 4,000 km (2,500-mile) border, making their diplomatic relationship crucial to regional stability.
The Bangkok meeting may serve as a first step toward rebuilding trust between the two neighbors.
