New Delhi: In his first conversation with Bangladesh’s interim leader on Friday (August 16), Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged protection for Hindus and minorities, to which Muhammad Yunus affirmed his commitment while adding that reports of attacks had been “exaggerated”.
This marked the first high-level interaction between India and Bangladesh since Nobel laureate Yunus was sworn in as chief adviser of the interim government in Dhaka on August 8.
Modi had earlier sent a congratulatory message to Yunus, in which he also raised the attacks on Hindus. He mentioned the issue in his address on India’s Independence Day as well.
Yunus assumed office after a four-day political vacuum following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster after 15 years in power.
Hasina, who fled to India with her sister in August amid a massive popular uprising that began as a student movement against government job quotas, remains in exile.
The Indian side quickly issued a readout on Modi and Yunus’s interaction, with Modi saying he received the phone call from the Bangladeshi leader.
Received a telephone call from Professor Muhammad Yunus, @ChiefAdviserGoB. Exchanged views on the prevailing situation. Reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. He assured protection, safety and security of Hindus and all…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2024
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)’s statement said that Modi “underlined the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities in Bangladesh”.
“Prof. Yunus, in turn, assured that the Interim Government would prioritise protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh,” it added.
In a series of posts from his official X account, the chief adviser’s press team emphasised Yunus’ commitment “to safeguarding every citizen of the country, including the minorities,” when the Indian prime minister raised the issue of minority protection.
Yunus also remarked that “reports of attacks on minorities have been exaggerated” and invited Indian journalists to “report from the ground on the issues of minority protection” in Bangladesh.
Yunus further stated that the situation in Bangladesh “has been brought under control and life is becoming normal across the country”. His press office added that the chief adviser is committed to “making all state apparatus fully functional and effective and ensuring human rights for every citizen of the country”.
Modi also conveyed that New Delhi will continue implementing its development projects in Bangladesh, while reiterating “India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh.”
Yunus described the student movement as a “second revolution of Bangladesh” and pledged that his government “will fulfill the democratic aspirations of the students and the people”.
India also invited the Bangladesh chief adviser to take part in the virtual third edition of the Voice of the Global South summit, which the latter accepted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Professor Yunus to join the Third Voice of Global South Summit to be hosted virtually by New Delhi on August 17. The Chief Adviser has agreed to join the summit virtually from Dhaka.
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) August 16, 2024
The Bangladeshi readout of the conversation claimed that Modi praised Yunus and mentioned that “he [the Indian PM] knew him for a long time”.
Yunus accepted a gold medal from Prime Minister Modi at the inauguration ceremony of the annual Indian Science Congress in 2015 and 2017.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the leadership of the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, saying he knew him for a long time. He said Professor Yunus has long experience and his leadership will bring good to the people of Bangladesh.
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) August 16, 2024
“He [the Indian PM] said Professor Yunus has long experience and his leadership will bring good to the people of Bangladesh,” the chief adviser’s press team wrote.
Both sides did not state if Hasina’s continuing stay in India was mentioned in the conversation.
Earlier, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dodged questions about the status of Hasina in India or the length of her stay.
“The approval for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to come to India was granted at short notice. The situation is still evolving. At this stage, we have nothing new to share about her plans,” he told reporters at the weekly media briefing on Friday afternoon.
Earlier this week, Hasina’s US-based son Sajeeb Wazed Joy released a statement on behalf of her mother in which she claimed that those killed in the uprising in Bangladesh had fallen “victim to terrorist aggression”.
“I demand a thorough investigation to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these heinous killings and acts of sabotage,” she wrote.
As per Bangladeshi media, around 300-400 people were killed by security personnel in street protests by students, most of which took place when the country’s internet and mobile networks had been shut down.
Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser Touhid Hossain had told Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma on Thursday that Hasina’s statements “emanating from India are not conducive to fostering better bilateral relations”.
When asked about Bangladesh’s objection to Hasina making political statements from India, Jaiswal avoided a direct response and instead remarked: “An interim government has been formed in Bangladesh. We look forward to working with them to fulfill the shared aspirations of the people of our two countries for peace, security, and development.”