Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are not expected to hold a bilateral meeting during the BIMSTEC Summit in April, despite a formal request from Dhaka.
While both leaders will attend the summit in Thailand, sources suggest that a one-on-one discussion on the sidelines is unlikely, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
The summit, set for April 3-4 in Bangkok, marks the first time Yunus and Modi will be part of the same multilateral gathering. On Thursday, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Touhid Hossain, confirmed that Dhaka had approached India for a potential meeting during the event.
However, individuals familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that the current diplomatic climate between the two nations does not favor such an engagement. They pointed out that unresolved tensions and ongoing disputes have prevented the groundwork needed for high-level talks.
Although the two leaders may exchange greetings as they attend various summit sessions, a structured meeting is improbable, according to sources. One insider noted that frequent criticism of India by some members of Bangladesh’s interim administration has further strained relations, making a formal discussion difficult.
Touhid Hossain told ANI that Bangladesh has officially reached out for a diplomatic dialogue, reinforcing Dhaka’s interest in maintaining engagement at the highest level.
The BIMSTEC summit, which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, comes at a time when relations between Dhaka and New Delhi are particularly tense.
India has raised concerns over issues such as attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh, law and order challenges, and the release of individuals linked to extremist activities.
On the other hand, Bangladesh has expressed unease over India providing refuge to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces multiple criminal cases back home. Additionally, disagreements over cross-border water-sharing and border security measures have further complicated relations.
New Delhi has also taken note of Bangladesh’s growing defense cooperation with Pakistan, particularly its interactions with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. A recent visit to Bangladesh by a Pakistani military delegation, which included ISI officials, has heightened concerns in Indian diplomatic and security circles.
Bangladesh had previously sought a meeting between Yunus and Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last September, but it did not take place.
India has yet to respond to Dhaka’s request to extradite Hasina, who left office on August 5 last year and later fled to India. She faces a range of charges in Bangladesh, including allegations of extrajudicial killings and crimes against humanity.
Since arriving in India, Hasina has largely remained out of public view and is believed to be staying in a secure location in New Delhi. However, her virtual addresses to Awami League supporters have reportedly irritated members of the interim government in Bangladesh.
The most recent high-level interaction between the two countries took place in Oman on February 16, when Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Touhid Hossain during the Indian Ocean Conference. Their discussion covered bilateral issues and cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework. This marked the first senior-level diplomatic engagement since Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Dhaka in December for annual foreign office consultations.
BDST: 2042 HRS, March 21, 2025
MSK
