Formal Yunus-Modi meeting unlikely at Bimstec summit

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to attend the Bimstec Summit in Thailand on April 3 and 4.

Citing sources, Hindustan Times says the two leaders will likely cross paths at the summit in Thailand, but a formal meeting on the margins of the event is unlikely despite a request from Dhaka.

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain said on Thursday that Dhaka has made a formal request for a meeting on the margins of the summit.

“An encounter or exchange of pleasantries cannot be ruled out as all the leaders attending the summit will be in each other’s company on several occasions, but nothing more is expected,” a person familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times.

Another person said, “A formal meeting looks difficult, especially when there is a fresh barrage against India from some member of the interim government in Dhaka almost on a daily basis. These conditions are not conducive to a meeting.”

The summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec), which groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, is being held in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said they have no update to share regarding a likely bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit in Bangkok, according to UNB.

“On the meeting that you asked, a bilateral meeting, I don't have any update to share at this point in time,” said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

He made the remarks at a weekly briefing in New Delhi when a journalist wanted to know whether there was a likelihood of Prime Minister Modi meeting the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Prof Yunus on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit.

Responding to a separate question, the MEA Spokesperson said the Bangladesh-India relationship is a wide canvas and they have been engaged with Bangladesh on several issues - development cooperation, economic matters and issues of connectivity.