The Crossbill News Desk
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, for the first time on Friday, April 4 — eight months after the dramatic ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
The meeting, held in Bangkok after the conclusion of the 6th Bimstec Summit, marked a significant moment in the ongoing effort to recalibrate ties between the two neighbours following a period of strained relations.
The 40-minute discussion took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, with both sides sticking closely to their long-held positions on key issues, ranging from Sheikh Hasina’s future to minority rights and border security.
Though no major agreements were announced, the meeting was widely viewed as a constructive step forward after months of uncertainty.
India had maintained silence on the meeting despite Bangladesh publicly requesting it three weeks earlier and confirming it just two days before. Modi’s engagement with Yunus was seen as a measured but significant gesture, especially in light of the recent tensions.
Speaking to reporters after the talks, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi had reiterated India’s commitment to a "people-centric approach" in its relationship with Bangladesh and emphasized support for a "democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive" neighbour.
Highlighting long-standing cooperation between the two countries, Modi noted that bilateral ties had delivered tangible benefits on both sides of the border.
In a pointed remark, Modi urged that "rhetoric which vitiates the environment is best avoided" — a likely reference to inflammatory statements made by various political actors in recent months.
One of the central topics during the meeting was the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Modi expressed serious concern over attacks against minorities, including Hindus, and stressed the need for accountability.
“He spoke at length on the issue, conveyed deep concern over the treatment of minorities, and informed Yunus of how it impacted our society,” Misri said.
Yunus responded by downplaying reports of violence against minorities, calling them "hugely inflated" and attributing much of it to misinformation on social media. He invited Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh and independently verify the claims.
His office later said that the interim government had established mechanisms to monitor religious and gender-based violence, and that steps were being taken to prevent such incidents.
Yunus also used the occasion to press India on the pending extradition request for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year amid mass protests.
The interim government submitted a formal request in December, accusing Hasina of serious human rights violations during a brutal crackdown on student-led demonstrations in her final weeks in office. Yunus cited a UN Human Rights Commissioner’s report that alleged Hasina had ordered security forces to open fire on protesters.
In addition, Yunus called on the Indian government to restrain Hasina from making what he described as “false and inflammatory” statements about the interim administration.
According to the Bangladeshi readout, Modi attributed tensions over her remarks to social media distortion and reiterated that India’s relationship was with the country of Bangladesh, not any individual or political party.
Another contentious issue raised was the killing of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian border forces. Yunus described the matter as deeply emotive in Bangladesh, while Modi defended India’s border security measures, especially in preventing illegal crossings during the night. Misri said bilateral mechanisms existed to review such concerns and could be activated as needed.
The leaders also discussed regional and bilateral cooperation. Yunus urged India to support a free trade agreement among Bimstec members, and called for renewed efforts on two long-pending water-sharing deals — the renewal of the Ganges treaty and the Teesta water-sharing agreement.
Modi is understood to have supported Bangladesh’s upcoming chairmanship of Bimstec, while Yunus used the opportunity to revive discussion on SAARC, advocating for renewed regional dialogue and integration.
In closing, Modi underlined the importance of holding regular, inclusive elections as the bedrock of any democracy and expressed hope that both countries would continue to resolve mutual concerns through dialogue.
Despite the absence of immediate breakthroughs, the meeting signalled a willingness on both sides to engage diplomatically and manage tensions in a rapidly shifting regional landscape.
The meeting, held in Bangkok after the conclusion of the 6th Bimstec Summit, marked a significant moment in the ongoing effort to recalibrate ties between the two neighbours following a period of strained relations.
The 40-minute discussion took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, with both sides sticking closely to their long-held positions on key issues, ranging from Sheikh Hasina’s future to minority rights and border security.
Though no major agreements were announced, the meeting was widely viewed as a constructive step forward after months of uncertainty.
India had maintained silence on the meeting despite Bangladesh publicly requesting it three weeks earlier and confirming it just two days before. Modi’s engagement with Yunus was seen as a measured but significant gesture, especially in light of the recent tensions.
Speaking to reporters after the talks, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi had reiterated India’s commitment to a "people-centric approach" in its relationship with Bangladesh and emphasized support for a "democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive" neighbour.
Highlighting long-standing cooperation between the two countries, Modi noted that bilateral ties had delivered tangible benefits on both sides of the border.
Met Mr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh. India remains committed to a constructive and people-centric relationship with Bangladesh.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2025
I reiterated India’s support for peace, stability, inclusivity and democracy in Bangladesh. Discussed… pic.twitter.com/4UQgj8aohf
In a pointed remark, Modi urged that "rhetoric which vitiates the environment is best avoided" — a likely reference to inflammatory statements made by various political actors in recent months.
One of the central topics during the meeting was the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Modi expressed serious concern over attacks against minorities, including Hindus, and stressed the need for accountability.
“He spoke at length on the issue, conveyed deep concern over the treatment of minorities, and informed Yunus of how it impacted our society,” Misri said.
Yunus responded by downplaying reports of violence against minorities, calling them "hugely inflated" and attributing much of it to misinformation on social media. He invited Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh and independently verify the claims.
His office later said that the interim government had established mechanisms to monitor religious and gender-based violence, and that steps were being taken to prevent such incidents.
Yunus also used the occasion to press India on the pending extradition request for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year amid mass protests.
The interim government submitted a formal request in December, accusing Hasina of serious human rights violations during a brutal crackdown on student-led demonstrations in her final weeks in office. Yunus cited a UN Human Rights Commissioner’s report that alleged Hasina had ordered security forces to open fire on protesters.
In addition, Yunus called on the Indian government to restrain Hasina from making what he described as “false and inflammatory” statements about the interim administration.
According to the Bangladeshi readout, Modi attributed tensions over her remarks to social media distortion and reiterated that India’s relationship was with the country of Bangladesh, not any individual or political party.
Another contentious issue raised was the killing of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian border forces. Yunus described the matter as deeply emotive in Bangladesh, while Modi defended India’s border security measures, especially in preventing illegal crossings during the night. Misri said bilateral mechanisms existed to review such concerns and could be activated as needed.
The leaders also discussed regional and bilateral cooperation. Yunus urged India to support a free trade agreement among Bimstec members, and called for renewed efforts on two long-pending water-sharing deals — the renewal of the Ganges treaty and the Teesta water-sharing agreement.
Modi is understood to have supported Bangladesh’s upcoming chairmanship of Bimstec, while Yunus used the opportunity to revive discussion on SAARC, advocating for renewed regional dialogue and integration.
In closing, Modi underlined the importance of holding regular, inclusive elections as the bedrock of any democracy and expressed hope that both countries would continue to resolve mutual concerns through dialogue.
Despite the absence of immediate breakthroughs, the meeting signalled a willingness on both sides to engage diplomatically and manage tensions in a rapidly shifting regional landscape.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment