Modi Meets Bangladesh’s Interim Leader Yunus: A New Chapter in Diplomatic Relations

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, on Friday, marking the first official discussion between the two leaders since a political upheaval in Bangladesh disrupted longstanding ties with India.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a regional summit in Thailand, signaling a potential thaw in relations after Bangladesh’s former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted in August 2024. Hasina, who had been a key ally of India, fled to India after a student-led uprising, leaving Yunus to take the helm of a caretaker government. His decision to visit China for his first state visit in March 2025 further strained India-Bangladesh relations, as China is a major rival of India.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent months, especially over issues like the treatment of minority Hindus in Bangladesh, border violence, and disputes over shared river resources. India has repeatedly raised concerns about the safety and rights of its minority communities, accusations which Yunus’s administration has denied.

During the meeting, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to a peaceful and inclusive Bangladesh. He expressed a desire to rebuild diplomatic ties based on mutual pragmatism. Yunus also addressed several contentious issues, including the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, who remains in India and faces charges of crimes against humanity in Bangladesh. However, no further details were provided on the extradition talks.

The two leaders also discussed concerns over illegal border crossings and the management of water resources from shared rivers like the Ganges and Brahmaputra. Yunus’s caretaker government is expected to oversee democratic reforms ahead of elections scheduled for 2026.

The meeting between Modi and Yunus represents a cautious step toward restoring stability in the region, as both leaders work to resolve longstanding diplomatic challenges.

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