Prime Minister Modi and Yunus Share Dinner at BIMSTEC in Bangkok
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Synopsis
Dhaka, April 3 (NationPress) During an official dinner in Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus discussed potential bilateral talks at the BIMSTEC summit. The Thai Prime Minister hosted various Heads of States, with both leaders expressing commitment to addressing regional concerns and enhancing cooperation.
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi and Yunus met during a BIMSTEC dinner.
- BIMSTEC chairmanship to be handed to Bangladesh.
- Concerns over Bangladesh's law and order situation were discussed.
- Call for bilateral talks between Modi and Yunus.
- Importance of protecting minority communities highlighted.
Dhaka, April 3 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, were seated next to each other at an official dinner hosted by the Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for the visiting Heads of States and Heads of Governments on Thursday during the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok.
The official X handle of the Chief Advisor's office shared screenshots showing both leaders at the dinner table as the Thai PM welcomed the BIMSTEC leaders.
Reports from local media in Bangladesh quoted the Chief Advisor's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad stating that both leaders “met each other” during the official dinner.
The interim government has expressed interest in facilitating the first-ever bilateral discussions between the two leaders on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok.
The BIMSTEC chairmanship is set to be formally transferred to Bangladesh on Friday.
The Chief Advisor's High Representative on Rohingya and Priority Issues, Khalilur Rahman, mentioned on Wednesday that the leaders of BIMSTEC member states will discuss future collaborations with Yunus, and there is potential for a meeting between Yunus and PM Narendra Modi.
“We have urged India to facilitate this discussion (between the leaders of the two countries)...there is considerable potential for holding this meeting,” Rahman stated during a press briefing in Bangladesh ahead of the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand.
Recently, PM Modi sent a letter to Yunus in honor of Bangladesh’s National Day, emphasizing the importance of mutual sensitivity while referencing the Bangladesh Liberation War as a “shared history.”
“We are dedicated to enhancing this partnership, anchored by our collective aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity, and founded on mutual sensitivity to each other’s interests and concerns,” Modi wrote.
New Delhi has expressed concerns regarding the declining law and order situation in Bangladesh under the current interim government. The Yunus administration has faced significant criticism for exonerating extremist elements and many Islamists since the fall of the Awami League government led by former PM Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
“We advocate for a stable, peaceful, inclusive, and progressive Bangladesh where all matters are addressed through democratic means and by conducting inclusive and participatory elections. We are increasingly worried about the deteriorating law and order situation, further aggravated by the release of violent extremists previously sentenced for serious crimes,” stated Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on multiple occasions.
With Bangladesh slipping into turmoil following the fall of the Awami League government, the Yunus-led administration has been accused of allowing Islamist factions to operate freely in the country and significantly relaxing the policies regarding mandatory security clearance for Pakistani citizens seeking visas, thereby facilitating the return of notorious terror suspects who had previously escaped to safe havens in Pakistan.
As attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, particularly against the Hindu and Ahmadiyya communities, remain unresolved, the MEA has continuously pointed out the serious nature of the issue and the interim government's ineffective investigations that have proven to be mere facades.
“We have consistently emphasized that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to safeguard Hindus and other minorities, along with their properties and religious sites. So far, only 1254 out of 2374 reported incidents between August 5, 2024, and February 16, 2025, have been verified by the police, with 98 percent of these incidents classified as political in nature. We expect Bangladesh to conduct thorough investigations and bring all perpetrators of violence, arson, and killings to justice without making such distinctions,” the MEA spokesperson has previously indicated.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain in Muscat, underscored the importance of not normalizing terrorism in Bangladesh.
