Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in Bangkok on April 4, 2025, during the BIMSTEC summit. This meeting is significant due to recent tensions between India and Bangladesh.
The meeting is particularly noteworthy because it follows months of strained relations stemming from attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and the prolonged stay of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India.
An informal meeting is scheduled for April 3rd at a reception hosted by the Thai Prime Minister.
PM Modi is also expected to meet with Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli and there's a possibility of a meeting with Myanmar's junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, though it's unconfirmed.
Both Mr. Oli and Mr. Yunus had previously visited Beijing before receiving invitations to visit Delhi, which is a departure from previous practice.
Bangladesh had formally requested the meeting between PM Modi and Mr. Yunus, a fact confirmed by Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh chief advisor Muhammad Yunus. | Photo Credit: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Friday (April 4, 2025), for the first time since the interim government took charge after the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina last July. The meeting, on the side-lines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand, is significant as it follows months of tensions between Dhaka and Delhi over attacks on minorities and Ms. Hasina’s continued stay in India.
Sources in both capitals confirmed the meeting will take place around noon on Friday (April 4, 2025).
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The two leaders are expected to meet informally on Thursday (April 3, 2025) at a reception hosted by Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Ahead of his departure for the two-day visit to Thailand for the regional summit, Mr. Modi said he would meet his counterparts without any specific mentions of which leaders he would meet.
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“I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with interest of our people in mind,” the statement read.
Mr. Modi is also expected to meet Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli, after months of tensions with the government in Kathmandu over a delay in inviting Mr. Oli for a visit. In a break from the past, both Mr. Oli and Mr. Yunus have visited Beijing first in the absence of an invitation to Delhi.
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The Hindu reported earlier this week that Bangladesh had requested a visit and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashimuddin had confirmed a request for a Modi-Yunus meeting in Bangkok.
The sources said a meeting between PM Modi and the Myanmar junta regime PM Min Aung Hlaing is also on the cards but not confirmed. The meeting would be another first such engagement with Myanmar junta government that seized power in 2021. India has launched Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar with relief after a devastating earthquake last week in which more than 3,000 have been killed.
Published - April 03, 2025 10:14 am IST
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