Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus in Bangkok on Friday. This was their first face-to-face meeting since Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in August 2024. The meeting took place during the BIMSTEC summit and lasted about 40 minutes.
Modi questions safety of minorities in Bangladesh
PM Modi clearly raised India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. He asked Prof. Yunus to ensure that minorities are protected and that all cases of violence against them are properly investigated. The Indian government stated that minority attacks cannot be ignored and that the environment must not be vitiated with irresponsible statements.
In response, Prof. Yunus claimed that the reports of violence were “hugely inflated” and “mostly fake”. He challenged India to send journalists to verify the situation on the ground. However, his claims come despite regular reports from human rights groups and media highlighting attacks, forced conversions, and destruction of temples in Bangladesh in recent years.
During the talks, Yunus also asked India to extradite former PM Sheikh Hasina. He accused her of making “inflammatory remarks” from India and trying to destabilize Bangladesh. He even allegedly said Hasina abused the “hospitality” of India and urged New Delhi to restrain her.
India has so far not commented officially on the extradition request. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the matter was raised but refused to say anything further. This shows that India is not rushing to take action on Bangladesh’s demand.
Modi distances India from any political party in Dhaka
PM Modi made it clear that India’s relationship with Bangladesh is not based on individuals or political parties. He emphasized that India values democracy, peace, and inclusiveness in Bangladesh and expects a stable government to come through fair elections.
India reminded Bangladesh that regular, free, and fair elections are the foundation of any democracy. Modi told Yunus that inclusive elections are needed to ensure peace and long-term partnership between the two countries.
PM Modi also raised concerns about border security. India stressed the need for strict law enforcement and preventing illegal crossings at night. There have been several cases of violence and smuggling at the India-Bangladesh border in recent months.
Yunus raised the issue of border killings and called for cooperation to reduce fatalities. However, PM Modi responded firmly that Indian security forces fire only in self-defense and that the deaths occur on Indian territory. India has blamed cross-border smuggling and illegal activities for the incidents.
Prof. Yunus also pushed for the renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty and the long-pending Teesta River agreement. India has not made any official comment yet, but these water-sharing issues have remained sensitive due to Bangladesh’s internal instability.
PM Modi stated that India is open to resolving issues with Bangladesh through discussions. However, his message also hinted that Bangladesh must first fix its internal issues, protect minorities, and ensure peace before expecting full cooperation from India.
Yunus, who is now the BIMSTEC chair, sought India’s support for a free trade deal between BIMSTEC nations. PM Modi congratulated Bangladesh on the chairmanship but did not make any promises on the deal. He only said India will support regional cooperation based on mutual benefit.
Despite serious issues being raised, the Bangladeshi side mostly gave excuses or denied the problems. Prof. Yunus’s response to minority attacks was weak, and his demand to silence Hasina shows a fear of opposition rather than a commitment to democracy.
PM Modi made it clear that India’s interest is in a peaceful and people-centric relationship with Bangladesh. He reminded Dhaka that history, geography, and culture connect the two countries, but for that friendship to continue, Bangladesh must act responsibly.
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