Modi-Yunus Bilateral Summit A Must For Fixing India-Bangladesh Ties

(MENAFN- The Arabian Post)

By Nitya Chakraborty

Bangladesh has officially sought a meeting between their head of interim government Dr. Mohammad Yunus and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the coming BIMSTEC meeting at Bangkok on April 2-4 next. Both countries are members of BIMSTEC. As per present schedule, both have confirmed their presence at the summit of the BIMSTEC. Desperate to have a meeting with the Indian PM after getting a drubbing from the U.S. intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard during her visit to India last week, the Bangladesh government wants to have a detailed discussion with the Indian PM who has been averting a one-on-one meeting in the last seven and half months since Dr. Yunus took over as interim head on August 8, 2024.

As of now, the Indian external affairs ministry has not come out with any confirmation of the possible bilateral summit, though one senior official said on Thursday that there are still two weeks left before the BIMSTEC conclave for taking a considered decision. But his tone was negative. He mentioned that continuous use of anti-India statements by Dhaka and bilateral meetings are not possible side by side. It is apparent that there is still apathy on the part of the Indian PMO to have a meeting of the two neighbouring countries' heads. India might be waiting for a more ripe opportunity when Bangladesh would reach out with folded hands.

However, this approach of the Indian side is myopic in terms of long-term diplomatic gains. The Indian government might have reservations about many actions of Dhaka's new regime, but the reality is that this regime has been brought about by the people, including the students and political activists belonging to various shades of opinion. The Bangladeshi people in general have anti-India sentiments now, and for that the Modi-led BJP government has to share some of the blame. Even regarding the atrocities against the Hindus in Bangladesh, the way the government spokespersons and the U.S. Intel chief Tulsi Gabbard went on and on, were a bit exaggerated. The initial attacks against the Hindus in different districts of Bangladesh in August-September last year have been contained, though small attacks by the Jamaat and some finge fundamentalist groups are continuing in some places.

At the same time, the minorities in Bangladesh have got organised in the recent weeks. They held a massive demonstration in Chittagong, met the interim government officials with their demands for security of their lives and the religious places. They got the support of a good section of the political workers including the students. The newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) and the main opposition BNP have appealed to the state administration to protect the minorities, though they have a grievance that the Hindus generally gave support to the Sheikh Hasina government, and have not expressed their opposition to the atrocities during Sheikh Hasina government.

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India's stake in the stability of Bangladesh is enormous since Bangladesh is its neighbour with more than 4,000 kms of border and housing about 13 million Hindus. So far, in the last seven and half months since the regime change, the influx of Hindus was negligible in the beginning and now, it has virtually stopped. Indian officials have also a responsibility to ensure that peace prevails in its neighbouring country irrespective of the colour of the government. Our Indian Prime Minister should not make it into an issue of ego with the Bangladesh chief Dr. Yunus, who is certainly placed in a disadvantageous position as a result of the strong Trump administration's views on Dhaka's new regime's style of functioning.

As regards the treatment of the minorities, Bangladesh's record is much better compared to India under the present Narendra Modi government. Muslims constitute about 180 million out of 142 crore population of India. Muslims have been treated in the BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh as second class citizens. The powerful associate organisations of BJP like RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal have been active in humiliating the minorities in a big way. Now in the name of demolishing the tombs of the emperors of Mughal era, a concerted campaign against the minorities are continuing which resulted in the latest violence in Nagpur.

So that way, the record of Modi government in dealing with the minorities in nothing better compared to Bangladesh. Even the Hindu convert Tulsi Gabbard's government's commissions have come out with many reports exposing the true nature of the human rights situation in India, especially in the BJP ruled states. So that way, India has no higher moral ground to take on Bangladesh on the minorities issue. But certainly, the Modi government will be justified in calling for protection of the security of the minorities in Bangladesh as that impacts India.

The issue is that India's persistent attitude of avoiding bilateral meeting at the highest level has generated further anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh. The interim government has opened its door to Pakistan who is taking full advantage of the present instability of Dhaka regime in making inroads into every area, including army. China, which has been all along a competitor in Bangladesh vis-a-vis India, has been trying to fill up the vacant space in Bangladesh economy following the latest political turmoil. This process of further expansion of Pakistan and China influence on Bangladesh economy and other areas will be more in the coming days if Indian officials do not make the move to start effective dialogue with Dhaka and repair the ties that have been already battered.

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Dr. Yunus is leaving for a four-day visit to China on March 26. He will be meeting the Chinese president Xi Jinping on March 28 to have wide-ranging discussions, including the Dhaka proposal to China to help in making Bangladesh a manufacturing hub of South Asia by setting up a series of factories. China may agree to that. Lots of MoUs with long-term significance for the growth of Bangladesh economy might be signed. If PM Narendra Modi gives his approval to his meeting with Dr. Yunus in Bangkok in the first week of April, that will be after a few days following Dr. Yunus's Beijing visit. That will give some mojo to Dr. Yunus in talking to the Indian PM. Bangladesh can show that PM Modi might have Tulsi Gabbard and the U.S. government on his side, but Bangladesh has also the backing of the world's second biggest power, China.

It will be in the interests of Indian diplomacy not to feel to be much empowered by U.S. support. India can deal with Bangladesh bilaterally and the process can start effectively with the Bangkok meeting. The Indian government will be making a grave mistake if Narendra Modi refuses to meet Dr Yunus in Bangkok. Later on, even if India tries, it will be too late for India-Bangladesh ties for a full reset. Prime Minister Modi has shown maturity in dealing with India-China relations in his interview with the U.S. journalist Lex Friedman. It is hoped that he will be wise enough to accept the Dhaka request to have a meeting with Dr. Yunus. This time, he should not avoid it just like he did in September last year during the UN general assembly session. (IPA Service )

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