A recent meeting between Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangkok has sparked diplomatic tensions following what has been described by sources as a “mischievous and politically motivated” portrayal of the discussions by Bangladeshi officials. According to people familiar with the matter, a Facebook post made by Yunus’ press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, misrepresented key aspects of the conversation, particularly those involving minority issues in Bangladesh and the purported extradition request concerning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In his social media post, Shafiqul Alam claimed that Muhammad Yunus raised the topic of Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and indicated that Prime Minister Modi’s response was “not negative.” He also alleged that Modi expressed disapproval of Sheikh Hasina’s past behavior towards Yunus, supposedly quoting the Indian leader as saying: “We saw her disrespectful behaviour towards you.” However, sources with direct knowledge of the interaction have refuted these statements, calling them factually incorrect and misleading.
The Indian side clarified that Prime Minister Modi approached the meeting with a tone of statesmanship, reaffirming the strength and depth of the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh since 2014. Rather than making politically charged comments, he reportedly emphasized the importance of maintaining strong people-to-people ties and democratic principles, notably the necessity of elections to establish legitimacy in governance. The suggestion that India would support any politically driven extradition move was categorically dismissed as baseless and untrue.
Further complicating the issue, the Indian officials also addressed the claim made in the Facebook post that attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh were the result of social media rumors. Indian sources firmly rebutted this narrative, stating that such assertions contradicted verified ground realities and factual reports emerging from the region.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi is said to have advised that all matters of bilateral concern should be discussed through the official diplomatic channels, particularly through the respective foreign ministries, rather than through public forums or unofficial claims. This response underscores India’s preference for maintaining diplomatic decorum in sensitive geopolitical affairs, especially in matters involving internal politics of neighboring countries.
The controversy is expected to create ripples in the India-Bangladesh relationship, particularly as the statements by the Bangladeshi side appear to align with internal political rivalries rather than diplomatic truth. The incident also draws attention to the growing role of social media in shaping international discourse and how misinterpretations or deliberate distortions can lead to confusion and mistrust between nations.
As regional observers closely monitor the unfolding situation, it remains crucial for both sides to preserve the integrity of diplomatic engagements and avoid political exploitation of high-level meetings. The evolving narrative underscores the importance of transparent and accurate communication, especially when public sentiments and international perceptions are at stake.
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