Bangladesh on Sunday rejected Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks warning Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to “watch his words,” calling them “incorrect” and “not respectful of propriety and diplomatic nicety.”
In an interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Singh said India did not seek tension with Bangladesh but urged Yunus to be cautious in his statements. “India can handle any kind of challenge, though we aim to maintain good relations with our neighbours,” Singh said.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson SM Mahbubul Alam reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to a “mutually beneficial relationship” with India, stressing that ties must rest on sovereign equality, non-interference, and mutual respect.
The comments come amid renewed strain between the two nations following Yunus’s alleged anti-India rhetoric and reports that he presented controversial artwork to Pakistani and Turkish delegations depicting a “Greater Bangladesh” that includes India’s northeastern states.
Dhaka has not denied the reports, but said differences in perspective should be addressed through “constructive and respectful engagement.”