PM Modi, Bangladesh’s Interim Govt Head Yunus Sit Together At Bangkok Dinner: Is Bilateral Meeting On Cards?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh's interim Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus were seen seated together at a dinner in Bangkok on Thursday, fueling speculation about a possible bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit scheduled for Friday.

First Meeting On The Cards

This meeting, if held, will be the first official interaction between PM Modi and Bangladesh's interim head since he assumed office in August 2024. Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained under the interim regime as the attacks on minorities have increased after Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed.

During the dinner, hosted by Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Modi was seated between Yunus and Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. Bangladesh's state news agency, BSS, cited Yunus' press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, as saying that Modi and Yunus "exchanged greetings." However, India has not confirmed whether a formal bilateral meeting will take place before Modi departs for Colombo on Friday.

Yunus' Comments Add Fuel To Tensions

Tensions between India and Bangladesh escalated further after Yunus' recent remarks during a visit to China, where he urged Beijing to expand its economic presence in Bangladesh and positioned the country as a "gateway" to northeastern India. He also referred to Bangladesh as the "only guardian of the ocean" in the region, drawing sharp criticism in India.

Responding strongly, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized India's strategic role in the region. He highlighted India's extensive 6,500-km coastline and connectivity with five BIMSTEC members. "India shares borders with five BIMSTEC nations, serves as a key link between the Indian subcontinent and ASEAN, and is developing its Northeast as a connectivity hub with an extensive network of roads, railways, waterways, grids, and pipelines," Jaishankar stated.

Bangladesh Seeking Meeting With PM Modi

However, Bangladesh's interim government had formally requested a meeting with Modi in Bangkok weeks earlier. Yunus assumed charge on August 8, 2024, just days after Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed amid mass protests over a police crackdown on students and youth demonstrating against reservation in government jobs.

Since August 5, 2024, Hasina has been residing in India after being flown to the Hindon Air Force base near New Delhi aboard a Bangladeshi military aircraft.

The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises seven nations-Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar-focused on regional collaboration.