Modi-Yunus Meet: It’s a Step Forward, But Miles to Go…

On April 4, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, finally sat across the table in Bangkok. After eight acrimonious months following Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic exit from power—almost to the day—it was their first meeting.

And the 40-minute talk at the Shangri-La hotel, held after the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in the Thai capital, was a much-needed icebreaker. Both leaders brought their concerns to the table—India worried about the plight of Bangladesh’s minorities, and Bangladesh pushing for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition.

The meeting, expectedly, did not resolve each and every issue. But the silver lining was that it did show both sides wanted to keep the conversation alive. That is a win in itself after months of tense silence and strained ties.

Modi spoke about India’s “people-first” approach, stressing how ties with Bangladesh have helped both nations grow. He did not fight shy of raising the issue of safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh—an issue that is close to the hearts of many in India, especially those forced to migrate as a consequence of political events since Partition in August 1947.

Modi urged Yunus to act firmly against attacks on the minorities and investigate the cases properly. It is now clear that India is not content with just watching from the sidelines; it wants Bangladesh to shape up. Modi also made a subtle point: fiery words from either side will not help. Calm heads, he seemed to be advising Yunus, were the need of the hour.

Yunus, on his part, seemed to come prepared. He spoke of ‘exaggerated reports’ of attacks on the minorities, and even invited Indian journalists to witness the situation for themselves. He assured Modi that his government was cracking down on violence—whether religious, or gender-based. But he did not stop there. Yunus pressed India on Hasina, who has been living in this country ever since she fled Dhaka last August. Bangladesh wanted her back, he said, to face ‘justice’, especially after a UN report blamed her for ordering deadly crackdowns on student protests. Yunus also flagged her social media jabs at his government, asking India to ‘rein her in’.

The extradition issue did happen. But India is playing it cool for now. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the request was on the table, but the details were under wraps. Modi blamed social media for the mess over Hasina’s remarks that provoked Bangladesh’s take on the issue—an easy dodge, perhaps, but it shows India is not keen to escalate that fight, at least not just yet.

There were other sticky points, too. Yunus raised the killing of Bangladeshis by the Indian border forces—a raw nerve for Dhaka. Modi defended India’s tough border rules, saying those were, indeed, necessary for his country’s security. Water did come up, too. Yunus wants progress on the Ganga and Teesta waters agreements—deals that have been stuck for years.

And Modi? He nudged Bangladesh toward elections, hinting that democracy needed more than just promises.

No big breakthroughs came out of this meeting. The differences—on Hasina, the minorities, the borders—are not going away overnight. But that is not the point. What matters is that Modi and Yunus talked, face-to-face, and kept it civil. They have set the stage for more chats, maybe through the many bilateral channels that both countries have. Yunus even handed Modi a photo from 2015, a nod to better days when Modi gave him a gold medal. It is a reminder: India and Bangladesh have history to safeguard their relations, and it is worth saving.

This meeting was not about fixing everything in one go. It was about restarting a stalled friendship. Both leaders know their countries need each other—trade, security and regional stability are too big issues to ignore. Sure, the road ahead is bumpy. Hasina’s fate, minority rights and border tensions will not be resolved easily. But, if Modi and Yunus keep talking, there is hope.

For now, this was a handshake, not a hug. And, sometimes, that is enough to keep things moving.

(The author Girish Linganna of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)

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