New Delhi: In the backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met in Thailand, marking their first encounter since the change in Bangladesh’s political landscape. This meeting, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, comes after Yunus took over following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August.
The meeting assumes significant importance as both countries navigate through challenges in their bilateral ties, exacerbated by Yunus’s recent comments on India’s northeastern states during his visit to China. Yunus had described these states as landlocked and positioned Bangladesh as their guardian for ocean access, a statement that drew strong reactions from Indian leaders. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed Yunus’s remarks as offensive, emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure to connect the Northeast with the rest of the country.
Tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated due to reported attacks on minorities and Yunus’s comments. Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Modi had earlier emphasized mutual sensitivity and shared history in his letter to Yunus on Bangladesh’s Independence Day. The meeting between Modi and Yunus is seen as a crucial step towards addressing these issues and potentially resetting the tone for bilateral relations.
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