The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a significant bilateral meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Friday, marking their first interaction since a dramatic political transition in Dhaka. The talks took place on the sidelines of the sixth BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions and uncertainty following the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
The meeting came at Dhaka’s request, highlighting Bangladesh’s urgent desire to stabilize ties with India amid a delicate domestic political environment. Yunus, who currently heads the interim administration in Bangladesh following the recent political shake-up, sought to assure India of continuity in bilateral cooperation, trade, and regional security efforts.
According to sources, discussions between the two leaders focused on cross-border security, trade facilitation, energy cooperation, and regional connectivity projects. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting the Bangladeshi people during this transitional phase and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia.
This high-level meeting is being closely watched by observers, as it comes after weeks of speculation surrounding the leadership vacuum in Dhaka. Former PM Sheikh Hasina, a long-standing ally of India, reportedly fled to India citing safety concerns after internal unrest and a growing political crisis. While New Delhi has remained tight-lipped about her status, her absence from the Bangladeshi political scene has led to rising regional speculation and concern.
During their interaction, both Modi and Yunus underlined the importance of BIMSTEC as a platform for economic and strategic cooperation, particularly in maritime security, counterterrorism, and disaster management. They also explored ways to advance shared infrastructure goals under the Act East Policy, focusing on improved land, sea, and digital connectivity between the northeastern Indian states and Bangladesh.
PM Modi conveyed India’s readiness to continue development cooperation and people-to-people ties with Bangladesh, irrespective of political changes. Yunus, in turn, emphasized his administration’s desire to maintain close and constructive relations with India while ensuring a smooth internal transition.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to intensify dialogue at various levels and prioritize mechanisms to ensure regional stability and economic progress under the BIMSTEC framework.
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