Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the interim advisor of neighboring Bangladesh, Mohammad Yunus, are participating in the BIMSTEC summit currently taking place in Thailand. This led to a bilateral meeting between the two leaders on Friday.
In Bangkok, at the request of Mohammad Yunus, a bilateral meeting was arranged with PM Modi. During this encounter, both leaders exchanged a warm handshake and engaged in discussions about bilateral matters.
Bangladesh had formally requested this meeting beforehand, and India agreed to it. This was a bilateral dialogue, positioned alongside the BIMSTEC summit.
This meeting is considered a significant diplomatic step amidst the current tense phase in India-Bangladesh relations. Earlier, both leaders were seen together at a dinner organized by Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The meeting took place at a time when Mohammad Yunus faced controversies over talks with President Xi Jinping during his visit to China. In China, Yunus remarked that Dhaka is the sole guardian of the sea in this area. Inviting China to invest in Bangladesh, Yunus commented on India’s constraints and highlighted the significant business opportunities China has in Bangladesh.
Yunus mentioned India’s northeastern states, known as the Seven Sisters, describing them as landlocked states without access to the sea. He emphasized that Bangladesh is the region’s only maritime guardian.
Source: aajtak
So far, no official report has been released by either country regarding the bilateral talks between PM Modi and Mohammad Yunus. After Sheikh Hasina stepped down in August 2024, incidents of violence in Bangladesh increased, impacting bilateral relations.
India has frequently expressed concerns over attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Notably, this meeting between the two leaders is the first since the government upheaval in Bangladesh on August 5 last year. After the coup in Bangladesh, Sheik Hasina has been residing in India.
