Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, on Friday, 4 April. This was the first meeting between the top leadership of the two countries after the coup of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, on Friday, 4 April. This was the first meeting between the top leadership of the two countries after the coup of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Both leaders are on a visit to Thailand for the BIMSTEC summit, and a bilateral meeting took place between the two in Bangkok. Earlier on Thursday night, both of them were also sitting next to each other at the dinner program of BIMSTEC leaders.
Bangladesh-India relations soured after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Muhammad Yunus appearing close to China and Pakistan, Yunus’s controversial statement about India’s northeastern states… Many such factors explain why this meeting is special.
1. Yunus eager to meet PM Modi
Even though the interim leader of Bangladesh has constantly shown an anti-India stance, he also seemed eager to meet PM Modi. The interim government there was keen to hold bilateral talks between the two leaders for the first time during the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok. Bangladesh hoped that after getting the green signal from India, these bilateral talks would take place. And this is what happened. However, when the two leaders met, PM Modi looked serious and calm, while Yunus had a smile on his face. Former ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar, while talking to NDTV, said that looking at the body language of the two leaders, there was no mutual trust or cordiality between them. Usually, whenever PM Modi meets any global leader, there is warmth between them. But this was not the case in this case. This shows that the nature of the meeting was formal.
2. Yunus appears close to China
As soon as Sheikh Hasina’s government changed in Bangladesh, it is now seen going away from India and into the lap of China. Bangladesh interim government leader Muhammad Yunus met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 28. This meeting was a message in itself. The message was that Dhaka’s relations with India have cooled down, India has reached the bottom rung of the primary, Bangladesh has forgotten the favors of the old friend and has set out to make a new friend. The special thing is that a top official of Bangladesh’s foreign ministry had even said that Yunus has chosen China for his first state visit and in this way, Bangladesh is “sending a message.” This report was published by AFP. The signal was clearly for India.
3. Yunus crossed the border to please China
When Yunus reached China, he crossed the border to please Xi Jinping. He said something about India’s northeastern states that India had to register a strong protest. Muhammad Yunus asked China to increase its economic influence in Bangladesh and mentioned that in this regard, India’s northeastern states being surrounded by land from all sides can prove to be an opportunity. Yunus said, “The seven states in the eastern part of India are called the Seven Sisters. They are landlocked areas. They have no way to reach the sea.” Describing Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” in the region, Yunus said that this could be a big opportunity and an expansion of the Chinese economy.
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4. Now we are friends with the Pakistan from which we got independence?
Pakistan was once struggling with tense relations with Bangladesh. But now the relations are changing. It accelerated at a different speed after the coup. Bangladesh has eased visa restrictions, trade has increased, direct flights have resumed, and there is even talk of military cooperation between the two. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on April 22. The country considered to be India’s friend is now joining hands with its biggest adversary.
5. Bangladesh is important for India’s security
India is trying its best to keep Bangladesh with it without showing any aggression. Bangladesh is India’s neighbor and relations with it have a complete impact on India’s security. Amidst the chaos in Bangladesh, India will have to increase its vigilance on the border. In the past, terrorists who have deeply wounded India, including plane hijackers, have crossed the border through Bangladesh and entered.
Dr Rajiv Nayan, Senior Research Associate, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi, expressed concern that Bangladesh, like Pakistan and Afghanistan, may also become a ‘home of outcasts’ amidst this chaos. That is, terrorists who have fled here may start getting shelter. India will have to keep a close watch on all types of smuggling happening across the border, whether it is of humans, cattle, gold, or weapons. According to him, a cocktail of military and militancy is being made in Bangladesh, and India will have to keep a close watch on it.
