International: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus engaged in a pivotal meeting in Bangkok on April 4th, marking their first interaction since the political shift in Bangladesh last August.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, saw the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
During the discussions, Muhammad Yunus conveyed India’s deep-seated concerns regarding the safety of minority communities within Bangladesh, notably Hindus, and emphasized the necessity for the Bangladeshi government to guarantee their security. This includes conducting thorough investigations into reported atrocities.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefing the press, elaborated that Prime Minister Modi articulated India’s anxieties regarding the security and well-being of minorities in Bangladesh. He conveyed India’s expectation that the Bangladeshi government would take decisive action to ensure their safety, including the rigorous investigation of any acts of violence against them.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of avoiding any rhetoric that could potentially destabilize the regional environment. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh.
“He underlined that India believed in a people-centric approach to the relationship and highlighted the cooperation between the two countries over a long period of time that has delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries. In this spirit, he underlined to Professor Yunus India’s desire to forge a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh based on a spirit of pragmatism,” Misri said, summarizing the discussions.
The Prime Minister also addressed the critical issue of border security, advocating for stringent law enforcement and measures to curb illegal border crossings, particularly during nighttime, to maintain stability and security along the border.
When questioned about whether Muhammad Yunus raised the subject of Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, Foreign Secretary Misri refrained from providing a direct response, stating that it was not appropriate to discuss the matter at that moment, and reiterated that the ministry had previously acknowledged receiving a request from Bangladesh.
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