Formal Modi-Yunus Meeting Unlikely at Bimstec Summit

A formal meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Muhammad Yunus at the upcoming Bimstec Summit in Thailand seems unlikely, despite a request from Dhaka.

Both leaders are expected to attend the summit in Bangkok on April 3-4, marking their first joint multilateral event. Bangladesh's acting Foreign Minister, Touhid Hossain, confirmed on March 20 that Dhaka has formally requested a bilateral meeting on the summit's sidelines. However, sources familiar with the matter suggest that tensions between the two countries make a formal meeting improbable.

“The current state of bilateral relations is not conducive to such a meeting,” said one source, speaking anonymously. “While an encounter or exchange of pleasantries during the summit is possible, a formal discussion is unlikely,” another source added, citing recent tensions.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained due to various issues, including India’s concerns over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, the law and order situation, and the release of violent extremists. On the other hand, Bangladesh has raised concerns about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India, where she sought refuge after stepping down in August 2024. Bangladesh has also sought Hasina’s extradition, further complicating matters.

The Bimstec Summit, which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, takes place amid these ongoing disputes. In September, Bangladesh requested a meeting between Modi and Yunus at the UN General Assembly in New York, but India declined.

India has not yet responded to Bangladesh’s extradition request for Hasina, who is accused of multiple criminal offenses in her home country. The situation remains tense, with Hasina in hiding in India, reportedly in a safe house in New Delhi, and her online speeches provoking strong reactions in Bangladesh.

In February, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Hossain in Oman, marking the first high-level diplomatic contact between the two countries in months.