India considers Yunus-Modi meeting at BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok

India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, confirmed that the potential meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, is currently under consideration. 

The possible meeting could take place during the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok next month.

The summit is scheduled to occur from April 2 to 4, and Bangladesh has formally requested a meeting between the two leaders during this event. 

Jaishankar spoke about this request at a meeting of the Parliamentary Panel in Delhi, where he addressed various issues, including the ongoing situation in Bangladesh.

Jaishankar stated, “The interim government has claimed that the attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh were politically motivated,” responding to concerns raised by members of the advisory committee regarding attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

He also touched on the current state of India’s relations with Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. 

Jaishankar mentioned that India would later discuss its stance on issues related to China and Pakistan. 

He added that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has become inactive due to Pakistan’s role, which has prompted India to consider strengthening BIMSTEC’s role in the region.

During the session, members of Parliament asked about the possibility of a meeting between Modi and Yunus. 

Jaishankar responded that the matter is still under active consideration. 

While there has been no official confirmation of Modi’s attendance at the summit, sources have indicated that the Prime Minister is likely to attend.

This potential meeting between Modi and Yunus would be significant as it could be the first face-to-face meeting between India’s top leadership and Bangladesh’s interim government. 

Previously, a similar request for a meeting was made during the United Nations General Assembly, but the meeting did not take place at that time. 

If the meeting occurs in Bangkok, it would mark a significant moment in India-Bangladesh relations.

Bangladesh sent a formal diplomatic letter to India on Wednesday, making the request for the meeting between the two leaders. 

While a final decision has not yet been made, the possibility remains under consideration.