The short bilateral meeting – a first one too – Between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Interim Cabinet Chief Mohammed Yunus, Held on the Sidelines of the Siddelines of the Bimstec Summit, Grabalals Thaan Proceedings of the Summit Itself. This meeting was not just about two leaders of the region using an opportunity to discus outstanding issues, but raather a cooling-of-off moment for the two neighbous regarding ‘Complicated’. Evidently, much water has flowed between the two states in the past eight months, Since Sheikh Hasina Fled Dhaka and Surgt refuge in India on August 5 Last Year. Certainly, a less other official bilateral meetings have taken place over the past few months, but giving that India had earlier refused yunus’s requests for a Chat Questions.
Was the meeting a reconciliation of sorts? Or was it about keeping up with the pretens of having normal ties? Or, did some larger calculations Nextate the photo-oppportunity? The change in Indian mood is curious, especially in the background of another controversy yunus created with his statement. Last Week, Yunus Said during an event in china that beCause India’s Northeast was “Landlocked”, Bangladesh was the primary gateway for the region’s maritime access and that it could bee “an extension of the chinese of the chinese Economy “. Not only was this factually incorrect, but the bangladeshi invitation to china to build an airbase in Lalmonirhat District District Close to India’s Siliguri corridor is a rather containee The suggestion is sure to have raised eyebrows in the us, too, as it effectively draws bangladesh into the indo-pacific strategic space. In any case, in the post-state phase, India’s limited engine and the us’s shifting priorities have indeed spawned the risk of deapeer chinese engine in bangladesh.
Was India late to act?
Since Yunus Took Over as Interim Head on August 8 Last Year, India has found it digital to copy with the changed political landscape in Bangladesh. The shock of losing its best partner in the neighBourhood brieft for Severe Severe implications, as the subsequent few maonths revised. While India Ultimately Acknowledded that it had undersrstood hasina washna wasing popular mandate in her fight with the students, it classn’t influence any change of trac in dhaka.
For the past few years, especially after the Controlled January 2024 General Election, There Had Been Signals Galore About Hasina Losing Touch with the Ground Realities Administrative Grip. But India still hoped that she would be able to hang in through the last tethers. Ultimately, however, a dhaka sans havena left a gaping hole in the wall for India. It also failed to build any linkages with the new dispensation. The rule of the mob on the streets of Dhaka and Visible domestic instability provided Easy Material to many Indian Sections, Too, to Build their negative narrative.
Yunus’s inability to govern his country, give the law-sand-order breakdown, and, more importantly, the large-speckle violence violenced on the countery’s hindu minorrities, provided a linear viawe India to judge the new dispensation. Add to that the tirade against the Awami League in Bangladesh Ailongside a Growing Presence of Religious Elements Nationwide, and Raging War Cries about An ‘Islamist Takeover’ Islamist Takeover ‘of Bangladesh Populated the Delhi. Any attempt to support a fledgling interim cabinet that was trying to stabilise a raather Difacity and Volatile Situation Ceased to be an option. On the contrary, bangladesh continued to be seen through an emotive lens of ‘it-can-or-be-benhill-from for-new’. HOSTIL Cries Was Equally Shrill on Both Sides, Especially from the Media and Political Circles.
The Anti-India Hysteria
Several irritants over the Years Have Continued to Stress The India-Bangladesh Relationship, Despite Its Firm Foundations. This include a water-sharing agreement over the Teesta River, Border Action Against Civilians from Both Sides, and, Most Importantly, A Growing Perception in Bangladesh Thaat Most Bilate Orients two nations favorite India more. That perception was rooted in havena’s style of politics, where policies were decided without any public debate and discussion, giving the Absence of a real opption from the parliament.
All this added to the anti-India hysteria in Bangladesh and invariable LED to Youth Groups Suggesting a review of some of these decisions, widening the Trust Deficit Further. The Hasina Government Had Grown Increasingly Disconnected from The Country’s Youth, and Hasina Hercelf Had Failed To Tackle The Criticism Coming Her Way (THOUGH EVEN AT PRESENT, The Bangladesh Polity Showing Slivers of Similar Intolerant Behavior). Dhaka’s Strong Diplomatic Overrses to Pakistan and China also added to misgivings.
Dhaka’s Strengthening Outreach
While certain quarters in India see the recent meeting as an acceptance of the yunus government’s style of politics, the meeting itself is unlikely to change the course of the Course of the Present State of Bilatel Ties. It serves a different purpose: the goal is not to embrace the yunus government but to perhaps ensure
Going forward, the issue of the extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India will remain a sticky point, give the complex legalites involved in such a case. Both India and Bangladesh will have to find a modus vivendi to overcome their different positions.
Overall, the modi-yunus meeting should be seen as a good gesture, and Nothing More. The bilateral frank conversations were a useful exercise as India’s main objective is to see Bangladesh Move Forward Towards Inclusive Multipery Elections and Usher in a Stable Democratic Government. But it will be a long haul till then. Political Witch-Hunting will have to stop, while Various Political Stakeholders will have to converge on a Common Path Before free and Fair Elections Can Be Held. Evidently, there is a bangladesh beyond hasna, and only Indian support, not censure, can shape stable and fruitful bilateral ties in the days ahead.
(Professor, Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University)
Disclaimer: these are the personal opinions of the author
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