Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus met Thursday on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, offering a rare moment of diplomacy between the two neighbors at a time of regional flux and mutual anxieties about U.S. stability.
It marked Modi’s first meeting with Yunus since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024. Yunus, who replaced Hasina as interim head of government, faces growing scrutiny over his foreign policy tilt toward China and Pakistan. Hasina, now in India and wanted in Bangladesh on criminal charges, is the subject of an extradition request that New Delhi has yet to act upon.
Despite the political tension, both leaders appeared intent on cooling rhetoric and reestablishing channels of cooperation. Modi cautioned Yunus to refrain from inflammatory public statements, while Yunus asked India to restrain Hasina from making “incendiary remarks” while residing in the country.
Security and minority rights took center stage in the closed-door discussion. Modi expressed strong concern over alleged violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, urging formal investigations. Bangladesh’s delegation dismissed the incidents as isolated and exaggerated, emphasizing they were not driven by communal motives.
Illegal migration and the specter of rising extremism in the region were also addressed. While Modi highlighted challenges related to border crossings, both sides reaffirmed a commitment to bolstering border security and ensuring regional stability.
The meeting comes as Yunus deepens diplomatic ties with China, recently holding talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The shift in Bangladesh’s foreign policy has prompted quiet unease in New Delhi, which remains wary of growing Chinese influence in South Asia.
Nevertheless, Thursday’s discussion was described by both sides as candid and constructive. Modi reiterated India’s support for a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive Bangladesh, while Yunus expressed willingness to “reset ties” in a pragmatic manner.
The dialogue, while fraught with challenges, offered a glimpse of cooperation at a moment when both countries confront geopolitical uncertainty and the growing unpredictability of U.S. global engagement.
The leaders met during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit, a seven-nation regional grouping that also includes Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand.