Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government are expected to hold their first official bilateral meeting during the Bimstec Summit in Bangkok, according to media reports published Wednesday.
Prof. Muhammad Yunus, 84, of Dhaka, assumed leadership following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The meeting, requested by Bangladesh, would mark the first formal engagement between the two leaders since the interim government was installed.
Bangladeshi officials, including High Representative to the Chief Advisor Khalilur Rahman, confirmed the request had been made, expressing confidence that the meeting would occur. Sources in New Delhi echoed that sentiment, suggesting that preparations for the talks are underway.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin said he was optimistic the meeting would ease tensions in bilateral relations, which have deteriorated since Hasina’s removal amid widespread student-led unrest.
India-Bangladesh relations have faced increased strain in recent months, particularly over reported violence targeting Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council stated that between August and December 2024, more than 2,100 incidents of violence against minorities and indigenous groups were recorded.
Tensions were further heightened following Yunus’s recent visit to China, during which he met with President Xi Jinping and signed several agreements aimed at deepening economic ties. During the visit, Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s geographic access to the ocean as a potential gateway for China to influence India’s landlocked northeastern states.
The Bimstec Summit, which brings together nations in the Bay of Bengal region, is expected to serve as a platform for regional cooperation, with the anticipated Modi-Yunus meeting drawing significant diplomatic attention.