Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisors of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, met on the occasion of the Bimstec summit in Bangkok today. External Affairs Minister’s Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Dawal were also present. The Prime Minister raised concerns with concerns about the safety of minorities in the neighboring country of Bangladesh. He also suggested to Dhaka that “the rhetoric that fails the environment”, weeks after Shri Yunus’s north -east comment attracted sharp reactions from Indian leaders.
“The Prime Minister reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. He underlined that India believed in a people-centered approach to the relationship and highlighted cooperation between the two countries, which is once again left for people in the two countries. Practicality,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Vikram Egyptians reported later.
“The Prime Minister also urged the Prime Minister that any rhetoric that vitates the environment is best avoided. On the border, strict enforcement of law and illegal border prevention, especially at night, to maintain boundary stability and security,” said Mr. Misri.
The Foreign Secretary said that Prime Minister Modi underlined India’s concerns related to the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed his hope that the Bangladesh government would ensure their safety. The Prime Minister also pressurized all the cases of atrocities for a thorough investigation, he said.
The Bangladesh government also issued a statement on the conversation between the two leaders. According to this, Mr. Yunus told Prime Minister Modi that Bangladesh “gives deep importance to his relations with India”. He said, “The deep friendship between our two countries has been established on intervened history, geographical proximity and cultural affinity. We are grateful to the unwavering support of the government and the people of India during our most challenging time in 1971.”
The leader of Bangladesh sought India’s support for a free trade agreement among seven Bimstec members and also called to discuss the Ganga Water Treaty and to end the Tisa Water Sharing Agreement.
Mr. Yunus also asked Prime Minister Modi about the status of Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and said that she is making inflammatory remarks in the media and trying to destabilize the situation in Bangladesh. He said, “We request that the Government of India take appropriate measures to prevent such a fire -making statement while living in your country.”
Responding to the concern of Prime Minister Modi on the condition of minorities in Bangladesh, Mr. Yums said that the reports of attacks on minorities were highly inflated and “there were bulk fake news”. The statement said, “The Chief Advisor said that he has introduced an effective system to monitor every incident of religious and gender violence in the country, and his government was taking serious action to prevent any incident of such incidents,” the statement said.
This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Mr. Yumns took over Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina was out of the government in August last year. The meeting is important watching a development of Delhi closely, amidst the increasing proximity of Dhaka with Beijing.
Relations between Delhi and Dhaka have taken a frost after overthrowing the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina after taking over as a nationwide movement and an interim government. The former Prime Minister fled to India. In the months after the change of guards, India expressed concern over the reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Dhaka has insisted that “Bangladesh’s minority is a issue of Bangladesh”.
Shri Yunus’s recent comments on the northeastern states in India stopped tension between the two countries and gave strong reactions from the leaders of the region. A video of Mr. Yumns’ comment, which was clearly performed during his four -day visit to China, shows it, “Seven states of India, the eastern part of India, are called seven sisters. They are a landlock region of India. They have no way to reach the sea.” He says that Bangladesh is a “patron of the ocean” for the region. “This opens a big possibility. It can be an expansion to the Chinese economy,” he said.
Reacting to the comment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that what Bangladesh had said was “aggressive”. He emphasized the need to develop more strong rail and road network connecting the north -east to the rest of the country.
“The statement made by Bangladesh MD Younis referred to the interim government as a landlock to seven sisters of north -east India and referred to Bangladesh as the patron of his ocean access, aggressively and strongly condemnable. This comment reflects the constant vulnerability tale associated with the neck of the strategic ‘chicken.” Chicken’s neck corridor is a section of land in Siliguri in West Bengal which connects the region to the rest of India. Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan surround this stretch.
“Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested to separate this important route to separate the Northeast from the mainland. Therefore, it is mandatory to develop more strong railway and road networks below and around the corridor of the chicken’s neck. In addition, searching for alternative roadways connects the north -the -land.
He said, “Although it can withstand important engineering challenges, it is obtained with determination and innovation. Such stimulating statements should not be taken lightly by MD UNIS, as they reflect deep strategic ideas and long agenda,” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi wrote to Mr. Yunus on 26 March, wished Bangladesh on his Independence Day. In his letter, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of mutual sensitivity and said that the Bangladesh Liberation War is a “common history” between the two countries. He wrote, “We are committed to advancing this partnership, which is inspired by our common aspirations for peace, stability and prosperity, and is based on mutual sensitivity to each other’s interests and concerns.”