North-east looks with optimism at Modi-Yunus meet

The people of northeast India (NE), who were disturbed by some recent developments deteriorating bilateral ties with immediate neighbours, woke up to an impressive one-to-one meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday.

- NAVA THAKURIA

Both the South Asian leaders had a warm discussion on the sideline of the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit, comprising member countries namely India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar, held in Bangkok on 4 April 2025.

It was, in fact, the first meeting between PM Modi and Prof. Yunus after the lone Nobel laureate of Bangladesh took charge of the caretaker government in Dhaka following a massive student-led movement that compelled sitting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee from Ganabhawan on 5 August last year.

Apparently Dhaka raised the issue of Hasina's extradition to face hundreds of cases lodged against the consecutive fourth-time premier of the Muslim-majority nation, along with a number of Awami League leaders in their home country.

Incidentally, the deposed premier Hasina arrived in New Delhi for temporary shelter, and that particular status still continues.

Yunus also raised the issue of Hasina's provocative statements, which unnecessarily created confusion in Indo-Bangla relations.

The issue of border killings and sharing of water from common rivers (precisely Teesta) also surfaced in the discussion that lasted for around 40 minutes.

On the other hand, PM Modi insisted on maintaining the border security and expressed his hope that the Yunus administration would thoroughly investigate all cases of atrocities against minority people, including the Hindus.

He reiterated India's support for a democratic, progressive and comprehensive Bangladesh.

The exchange of words between the two distinguished leaders, who greeted each other with mutual respect, was candid, productive and constructive, said a close associate of Prof. Yunus, who opined that Bangladesh deeply values its relationship with India.