Dhaka [Bangladesh]: Bangladesh has reached out to India to arrange a meeting between its Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to Bangkok in early April.
Both leaders are expected to visit Thailand from April 2-4 to participate in the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Speaking to media, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser to the interim government, Md Touhid Hossain, said, “We have made a diplomatic approach to India to hold a bilateral meeting between our two leaders at the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit.”
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28.
In February, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference in Oman.
Informing about the meeting, Jaishankar stated that discussions centered around bilateral relations and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
“Met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Conversation was focused on our bilateral relationship, as also on (BIMSTEC),” Jaishankar wrote on X.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also released a statement noting that the two sides discussed various bilateral issues of mutual concern.
Recalling their last meeting during the UNGA session in September 2024, both sides acknowledged their continued diplomatic engagements. These included the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Dhaka on December 9, 2024, and Bangladesh’s Energy Adviser participating in the India Energy Week events in New Delhi on February 10-11, 2025.
Both countries also confirmed that a meeting between the Directors General of their Border Guarding Forces is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from February 18-20, where they aim to address and resolve border-related issues.
Recognizing the challenges both nations face, India and Bangladesh emphasized the need for joint efforts to tackle these concerns.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser stressed the importance of initiating discussions to renew the Ganges Water Treaty. He also highlighted the significance of convening the SAARC Standing Committee meeting and requested India’s consideration on the matter.