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The Yunus-Modi dialogue and its implications for South Asian geopolitics
"In diplomacy, clarity is often more powerful than consensus." - Henry Kissinger Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Bangkok on April 4, 2025, against the backdrop of regional instability and domestic transformation. The encounter was not a dipl
Redrawing lines of engagement
The Yunus-Modi dialogue and its implications for South Asian geopolitics
Serajul I Bhuiyan
Published :
Apr 05, 2025 23:21
Updated :
Apr 05, 2025 23:21
"In diplomacy, clarity is often more powerful than consensus." - Henry Kissinger Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Bangkok on April 4, 2025, against the backdrop of regional instability and domestic transformation. The encounter was not a diplomatic courtesy; it was a substantive engagement that could reshape the trajectory of Bangladesh-India relations at a time of realigning alliances, contested narratives, and growing regional ambitions.
Being the first formal interaction between the two leaders in over a decade, this 40-minute talk-described by officials as warm, constructive, and candid-amounted to a diplomatic reset. It allowed both sides to rebalance priorities and reassert mutual respect while discussing outstanding bilateral issues such as water sharing, border security, minority rights, and the pending extradition of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
RECALIBRATING BILATERAL RELATIONS: Yunus began by reiterating the historical foundation of Bangladesh-India relations, citing India's unequivocal support during the 1971 Liberation War. Emphasising shared geography and cultural kinship, he considered Bangladesh a neighbour that values sovereign equality and shared development. The Chief Adviser's tone, however, was not merely ceremonial. It was heavy with the voice of a nation in political transition and search of regional equilibrium.
Modi, on his part, sought to dispel perceptions of political bias by stating in no ambiguous terms that India's relationship is with no party or person but with the sovereign nation of Bangladesh. The statement-meant to create distance between New Delhi and Sheikh Hasina's controversial record-was a message as much to Dhaka's caretaker government as to the international community.
THE HASINA EXTRADITION REQUEST: One of the most delicate matters at the meeting was Yunus's formal request for information on the current status of Bangladesh's application for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is still in voluntary exile in India. Referring to the damning UN OHCHR report documenting the severe human rights violations during the protests of July 2024-during which over 1,400 protestors were killed, 13 per cent of them children- Yunus argued that her persistent media provocations from Indian soil amount to destabilising interference and abuse of Indian hospitality.
Quoting Winston Churchill's immortal warning that "diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions," this report is the balancing act India must undertake: managing ancient ties with a former political friend while guarding its reputation as a neutral, responsible regional actor.
While Modi downplayed tensions, attributing them in considerable measure to misinformation on social media, his reluctance to be explicit about the extradition request indicates the matter's sensitivity. It is a pressure point that could either accelerate a new chapter of openness or harden outstanding mistrust in Dhaka-Delhi ties. Even though Modi downplayed the tensions, he must realise that providing deposed Sheikh Hasina refuge in a safe place and permission to address her supporters in Bangladesh and destabilise the country forced the vast majority of Bangladeshis to consider Indian government media highly anti-Bangladesh, which is detrimental to the bilateral relations between the two countries. It makes India look bad to other South Asian countries and think India is interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.
PERCEPTIONS AND POLITICAL OPTICS: While Modi attempted to downplay the tensions, the political optics of granting asylum to Sheikh Hasina-Bangladesh's ousted former Prime Minister-have not gone unnoticed. Her continued presence in India, coupled with her ability to disseminate inciting messages to sympathisers in the homeland, has highly disturbed public opinion in Bangladesh. It is viewed by many as a misuse of Indian hospitality and a tacit endorsement of attempts to destabilise Bangladesh's interim government.
The repercussions have been profound: an overwhelming majority of Bangladeshis now perceive Indian media, and by extension, parts of the Indian establishment, as biased and dismissive of Bangladesh's internal sovereignty. Whether valid or not, this perception is taking a toll on bilateral trust and harming India's image as a non-interfering regional power. As former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson once warned, "The greatest danger of diplomacy is the assumption that other nations think of themselves as we think of ourselves." For India, allowing such uncertainty to persist risks not only alienating Bangladesh but also other neighbours who are suspicious of hegemonic intentions.
BORDER KILLINGS: Repeated border killings were a highlight of the discussion. Yunus was remorseful and demanded better bilateral coordination to prevent deaths. Modi, while defending the actions of Indian border forces as self-defence, agreed on the need for joint mechanisms. That they decided to reduce border killings is a step toward humanitarian diplomacy in a region long plagued by frontier tensions.
DEBUNKING THE MINORITY NARRATIVE: In diplomacy, integrity is not just a moral compass but the basis of credibility. Indian Prime Minister conveyed concern about the status of minorities in Bangladesh, reflecting accusations routinely exaggerated by Indian media. Yunus stated unequivocally that many of these are exaggerated, misleading, or invented-fuelled by partisan propaganda machines and echo chambers more interested in deflection than in the truth. Even as India points a finger at its neighbour, it must confront the mirror of its realities. From the systematic marginalisation of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to the enforced silence of Kashmiri voices, India's record on minority rights-well-documented by international human rights observers-is under intense global scrutiny. As George Orwell once wrote, "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." The contrast is particularly stark compared to the everyday experiences of Bangladesh's minority communities.
In fact, the Muslim minority is incredibly depressed and oppressed by the Hindu Community, and Indian media and Hollywood movies played a bigger role in it. So, India does not have any moral integrity to give a lesson on minority issues of Bangladesh. Minorities in Bangladesh say they happily live together with the Muslim Majority in Bangladesh.
Despite isolated incidents-too often exploited in foreign reporting-the majority of Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian citizens in Bangladesh continue to live in peace alongside the Muslim majority, participating fully in civic, economic, and cultural life. The Yunus administration has already instituted mechanisms of oversight to address communal tensions with alacrity, a testament to its desire for inclusive governance. In this regard, India's attempt at positioning itself as a moral arbiter comes across as diplomatically misplaced and ethically hollow. Rather than exporting its domestic, communal anxieties, New Delhi would adopt a more introspective approach that respects its neighbours' sovereignty and social cohesion.
GEOPOLITICAL UNDERCURRENTS AND REGIONAL REBALANCING: The meeting between Yunus and Modi also resonates with the more significant dynamics of South Asian geopolitics. As Bangladesh continues to firm up its relations with China-underscored by Dr. Yunus's recent state visit to Beijing-the Bangkok meeting served as a requisite counterbalance, preserving strategic equilibrium in the region. India's reiteration of a non-aligned stance toward Bangladesh indicates the recognition that Dhaka's foreign policy is becoming more multi-polar. In response, New Delhi seems to be adjusting its strategy-choosing pragmatic interaction over ideological affinity.
BIMSTEC AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION: Yunus attended the Bangkok summit with more than political credentials-he did so with the weight of global integrity and developmental vision.
In his new capacity as BIMSTEC Chair, he used the occasion to invite India to join in accelerating a long-proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among the bloc's seven-nation membership. His message was economic and philosophical-a call for regional solidarity at a moment of fragmentation. Citing BIMSTEC as "South Asia's next great opportunity," Yunus emphasised that economic integration and equitable resource-sharing were key to peace, progress, and prosperity in the Bay of Bengal region. He also renewed Bangladesh's call for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and, crucially, for the long-awaited Teesta River Agreement to be signed-matters at the core of Bangladesh's water security and agricultural sustainability.
As a crusader for human dignity and inclusive development who is not shy to take a position, Yunus also framed these matters as bilateral disputes and tests of regional conscience. Quoting Kofi Annan, he reminded everyone that "we may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race." Indian Prime Minister embraced the BIMSTEC agenda, congratulating Yunus on his appointment and reiterating India's commitment to a democratic, inclusive, and forward-looking Bangladesh.
However, while the goodwill gestures were encouraging, the legacy of simmering water-sharing disagreements is a thorn that requires ongoing diplomacy and political will on both sides. Even so, with a world-class personality like Yunus at the helm of BIMSTEC, the regional bloc can finally receive the leadership it needs to move from aspiration to action.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the Yunus-Modi meeting was a ritual of diplomacy but a strategic reboot. It reflected Dhaka's aspiration to regain control over its foreign policy and invite Delhi into a relationship on equal terms. For South Asia, where geopolitics is too frequently determined by history and hegemony, this dialogue offers a hopeful model: cooperation, mutual respect, and principled diplomacy can still determine the future.
The path forward remains complex, whether regarding the waters of the Teesta, Rohingya repatriation, or economic integration. However, with open communication and regional foresight, Bangladesh and India can still transform their common geography into common prosperity.
Dr Serajul I Bhuiyan is a professor and former chairman of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia, USA.
The Yunus-Modi dialogue and its implications for South Asian geopolitics
Serajul I Bhuiyan
Published :
Apr 05, 2025 23:21
Updated :
Apr 05, 2025 23:21
"In diplomacy, clarity is often more powerful than consensus." - Henry Kissinger Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Bangkok on April 4, 2025, against the backdrop of regional instability and domestic transformation. The encounter was not a diplomatic courtesy; it was a substantive engagement that could reshape the trajectory of Bangladesh-India relations at a time of realigning alliances, contested narratives, and growing regional ambitions.
Being the first formal interaction between the two leaders in over a decade, this 40-minute talk-described by officials as warm, constructive, and candid-amounted to a diplomatic reset. It allowed both sides to rebalance priorities and reassert mutual respect while discussing outstanding bilateral issues such as water sharing, border security, minority rights, and the pending extradition of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
RECALIBRATING BILATERAL RELATIONS: Yunus began by reiterating the historical foundation of Bangladesh-India relations, citing India's unequivocal support during the 1971 Liberation War. Emphasising shared geography and cultural kinship, he considered Bangladesh a neighbour that values sovereign equality and shared development. The Chief Adviser's tone, however, was not merely ceremonial. It was heavy with the voice of a nation in political transition and search of regional equilibrium.
Modi, on his part, sought to dispel perceptions of political bias by stating in no ambiguous terms that India's relationship is with no party or person but with the sovereign nation of Bangladesh. The statement-meant to create distance between New Delhi and Sheikh Hasina's controversial record-was a message as much to Dhaka's caretaker government as to the international community.
THE HASINA EXTRADITION REQUEST: One of the most delicate matters at the meeting was Yunus's formal request for information on the current status of Bangladesh's application for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is still in voluntary exile in India. Referring to the damning UN OHCHR report documenting the severe human rights violations during the protests of July 2024-during which over 1,400 protestors were killed, 13 per cent of them children- Yunus argued that her persistent media provocations from Indian soil amount to destabilising interference and abuse of Indian hospitality.
Quoting Winston Churchill's immortal warning that "diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions," this report is the balancing act India must undertake: managing ancient ties with a former political friend while guarding its reputation as a neutral, responsible regional actor.
While Modi downplayed tensions, attributing them in considerable measure to misinformation on social media, his reluctance to be explicit about the extradition request indicates the matter's sensitivity. It is a pressure point that could either accelerate a new chapter of openness or harden outstanding mistrust in Dhaka-Delhi ties. Even though Modi downplayed the tensions, he must realise that providing deposed Sheikh Hasina refuge in a safe place and permission to address her supporters in Bangladesh and destabilise the country forced the vast majority of Bangladeshis to consider Indian government media highly anti-Bangladesh, which is detrimental to the bilateral relations between the two countries. It makes India look bad to other South Asian countries and think India is interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.
PERCEPTIONS AND POLITICAL OPTICS: While Modi attempted to downplay the tensions, the political optics of granting asylum to Sheikh Hasina-Bangladesh's ousted former Prime Minister-have not gone unnoticed. Her continued presence in India, coupled with her ability to disseminate inciting messages to sympathisers in the homeland, has highly disturbed public opinion in Bangladesh. It is viewed by many as a misuse of Indian hospitality and a tacit endorsement of attempts to destabilise Bangladesh's interim government.
The repercussions have been profound: an overwhelming majority of Bangladeshis now perceive Indian media, and by extension, parts of the Indian establishment, as biased and dismissive of Bangladesh's internal sovereignty. Whether valid or not, this perception is taking a toll on bilateral trust and harming India's image as a non-interfering regional power. As former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson once warned, "The greatest danger of diplomacy is the assumption that other nations think of themselves as we think of ourselves." For India, allowing such uncertainty to persist risks not only alienating Bangladesh but also other neighbours who are suspicious of hegemonic intentions.
BORDER KILLINGS: Repeated border killings were a highlight of the discussion. Yunus was remorseful and demanded better bilateral coordination to prevent deaths. Modi, while defending the actions of Indian border forces as self-defence, agreed on the need for joint mechanisms. That they decided to reduce border killings is a step toward humanitarian diplomacy in a region long plagued by frontier tensions.
DEBUNKING THE MINORITY NARRATIVE: In diplomacy, integrity is not just a moral compass but the basis of credibility. Indian Prime Minister conveyed concern about the status of minorities in Bangladesh, reflecting accusations routinely exaggerated by Indian media. Yunus stated unequivocally that many of these are exaggerated, misleading, or invented-fuelled by partisan propaganda machines and echo chambers more interested in deflection than in the truth. Even as India points a finger at its neighbour, it must confront the mirror of its realities. From the systematic marginalisation of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to the enforced silence of Kashmiri voices, India's record on minority rights-well-documented by international human rights observers-is under intense global scrutiny. As George Orwell once wrote, "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." The contrast is particularly stark compared to the everyday experiences of Bangladesh's minority communities.
In fact, the Muslim minority is incredibly depressed and oppressed by the Hindu Community, and Indian media and Hollywood movies played a bigger role in it. So, India does not have any moral integrity to give a lesson on minority issues of Bangladesh. Minorities in Bangladesh say they happily live together with the Muslim Majority in Bangladesh.
Despite isolated incidents-too often exploited in foreign reporting-the majority of Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian citizens in Bangladesh continue to live in peace alongside the Muslim majority, participating fully in civic, economic, and cultural life. The Yunus administration has already instituted mechanisms of oversight to address communal tensions with alacrity, a testament to its desire for inclusive governance. In this regard, India's attempt at positioning itself as a moral arbiter comes across as diplomatically misplaced and ethically hollow. Rather than exporting its domestic, communal anxieties, New Delhi would adopt a more introspective approach that respects its neighbours' sovereignty and social cohesion.
GEOPOLITICAL UNDERCURRENTS AND REGIONAL REBALANCING: The meeting between Yunus and Modi also resonates with the more significant dynamics of South Asian geopolitics. As Bangladesh continues to firm up its relations with China-underscored by Dr. Yunus's recent state visit to Beijing-the Bangkok meeting served as a requisite counterbalance, preserving strategic equilibrium in the region. India's reiteration of a non-aligned stance toward Bangladesh indicates the recognition that Dhaka's foreign policy is becoming more multi-polar. In response, New Delhi seems to be adjusting its strategy-choosing pragmatic interaction over ideological affinity.
BIMSTEC AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION: Yunus attended the Bangkok summit with more than political credentials-he did so with the weight of global integrity and developmental vision.
In his new capacity as BIMSTEC Chair, he used the occasion to invite India to join in accelerating a long-proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among the bloc's seven-nation membership. His message was economic and philosophical-a call for regional solidarity at a moment of fragmentation. Citing BIMSTEC as "South Asia's next great opportunity," Yunus emphasised that economic integration and equitable resource-sharing were key to peace, progress, and prosperity in the Bay of Bengal region. He also renewed Bangladesh's call for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and, crucially, for the long-awaited Teesta River Agreement to be signed-matters at the core of Bangladesh's water security and agricultural sustainability.
As a crusader for human dignity and inclusive development who is not shy to take a position, Yunus also framed these matters as bilateral disputes and tests of regional conscience. Quoting Kofi Annan, he reminded everyone that "we may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race." Indian Prime Minister embraced the BIMSTEC agenda, congratulating Yunus on his appointment and reiterating India's commitment to a democratic, inclusive, and forward-looking Bangladesh.
However, while the goodwill gestures were encouraging, the legacy of simmering water-sharing disagreements is a thorn that requires ongoing diplomacy and political will on both sides. Even so, with a world-class personality like Yunus at the helm of BIMSTEC, the regional bloc can finally receive the leadership it needs to move from aspiration to action.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the Yunus-Modi meeting was a ritual of diplomacy but a strategic reboot. It reflected Dhaka's aspiration to regain control over its foreign policy and invite Delhi into a relationship on equal terms. For South Asia, where geopolitics is too frequently determined by history and hegemony, this dialogue offers a hopeful model: cooperation, mutual respect, and principled diplomacy can still determine the future.
The path forward remains complex, whether regarding the waters of the Teesta, Rohingya repatriation, or economic integration. However, with open communication and regional foresight, Bangladesh and India can still transform their common geography into common prosperity.
Dr Serajul I Bhuiyan is a professor and former chairman of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia, USA.
