BIMSTEC Summit: Dhaka Prepared for Yunus-Modi Talks, Awaiting Delhi’s Response
"We are prepared for the talks on our end and will be waiting," Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin told reporters.
BIMSTEC Summit: Dhaka Ready for Yunus-Modi Talks, Awaits Delhi’s Response
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin stated on Tuesday that Dhaka is prepared for a bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit. Bangladesh is now awaiting a positive response from New Delhi.
He emphasized that such a meeting could help ease tensions between the two nations. "On our part, we are ready for the talks and will be waiting," Jashim Uddin said during a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh attaches significant importance to this meeting, believing it will strengthen bilateral ties. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier mentioned that India is considering the possibility of a Yunus-Modi meeting.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh formally approached India through diplomatic channels to facilitate the meeting. However, on Friday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that there were no updates regarding the likelihood of the bilateral talks.
"Regarding the meeting, I have no update to share at this moment," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to a question about whether Modi and Yunus would meet during the summit. He also highlighted the broad scope of Bangladesh-India relations, covering development cooperation, economic ties, and connectivity.
Prof. Yunus is scheduled for a two-day visit to Thailand to attend the BIMSTEC Summit, which will take place from April 2-4 in Bangkok. Officials confirmed that Bangladesh will assume the chairmanship of BIMSTEC during the summit, taking over from Thailand.
BIMSTEC comprises seven member nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey recently stated that the summit is expected to yield significant outcomes and set a future course for regional cooperation.
Prof. Yunus reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with India, emphasizing that both nations’ futures are closely linked. In a recent BBC interview, he dismissed concerns arising from misinformation and reiterated that Bangladesh and India share an "excellent relationship."
"We will continue to strengthen this bond," Yunus said, describing India as an important business partner for Bangladesh.
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