India Yet to Decide on Meeting Between Yunus and Modi at UN Assembly

India has yet to make a decision on Bangladesh’s request for a meeting between interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. Sources familiar with the discussions revealed on Saturday that a meeting might be unlikely due to recent controversial remarks made by Yunus.
Earlier this week, Bangladesh formally requested a high-level meeting between Yunus and Modi, who will both be attending the UN General Assembly later this month. However, New Delhi is still deliberating on the request as Modi’s schedule for bilateral meetings in New York is being finalized.
Tensions have risen following Yunus’s critical comments about former Bangladeshi Premier Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India. In a recent interview, Yunus accused Hasina of interfering in Bangladeshi politics from abroad and suggested that India should silence her if she is to remain in the country.
“If India wants to keep her there, she must refrain from speaking out,” Yunus stated. “Her comments are not beneficial for either Bangladesh or India.”
The Bangladeshi government has reportedly insisted that Hasina cease her public statements while she is in India. India’s response to these comments has been muted, with no official statement addressing Yunus’s criticisms.
India had previously granted Hasina entry on short notice after her resignation on August 5, but the Ministry of External Affairs has avoided discussing the possibility of her extradition, labeling it as a hypothetical issue.
Yunus, who assumed leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government shortly after Hasina’s departure, had a phone conversation with Modi on August 16. During their talk, Modi emphasized the need to protect minorities in Bangladesh amid reports of unrest following the previous government’s exit. Yunus assured Modi that the safety of all minorities would be a priority but has since downplayed reports of attacks on Hindus as “exaggerated.”
Recent discussions between the two leaders also touched on enhancing bilateral relations. However, there are concerns that the interim Bangladeshi government may not be fully in control, with some factions within the caretaker setup working at cross-purposes