Fri Apr 04 11:30:22 UTC 2025: ## Modi Raises Concerns Over Minority Safety in Bangladesh During BIMSTEC Summit

**Bangkok, Thailand –** Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. The meeting, also attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, focused on bilateral relations amid recent tensions.

Prime Minister Modi expressed India’s deep concern over the safety and security of minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh, urging a thorough investigation into reported atrocities. He emphasized the importance of avoiding rhetoric that could damage the relationship between the two countries, referencing recent comments made by Mr. Yunus regarding India’s Northeast. Modi reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh, highlighting the long-standing cooperation between the nations. He stressed the need for strict border enforcement to prevent illegal crossings.

Mr. Yunus, in a statement released by the Bangladesh government, acknowledged the strong historical ties between the two nations and thanked India for its support during the 1971 Liberation War. He requested India’s support for a BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement, renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, and the conclusion of the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement. He also raised the issue of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in India, requesting India to restrain her from making what he termed “inflammatory remarks.” Mr. Yunus dismissed reports of attacks on minorities as “hugely inflated” and largely “fake news,” asserting that the Bangladesh government is actively addressing such incidents.

The meeting comes amidst growing concerns in Delhi over Dhaka’s closer ties with Beijing and follows recent contentious statements by Mr. Yunus regarding India’s Northeast, which drew strong criticism from Indian officials, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sarma condemned Yunus’s characterization of India’s Northeast as “landlocked” and Bangladesh as its “guardian of ocean access,” highlighting the strategic importance of the region and the need for improved infrastructure. The meeting holds significant weight given the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh and the subsequent strain on India-Bangladesh relations.

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