Modi-Yunus Meeting in New York Unlikely, Say Indian Media

Indian media reported that there will be no meeting between Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, USA.

Both leaders are scheduled to travel to the United States next week to attend the UN General Assembly session.

Citing several individuals and sources familiar with the matter, the Indian media outlet Hindustan Times provided this information on Wednesday (September 18).

The media outlet stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not expected to meet with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, during the UN General Assembly session. Individuals aware of the situation confirmed this information on Wednesday.

According to Hindustan Times, Bangladesh had officially requested a meeting between Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly earlier this month. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously, said Dhaka was keen on this meeting in hopes that it would help ease the tensions that have strained bilateral relations since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government.

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However, they indicated that such a meeting is not part of India's agenda. Moreover, Modi's three-day visit to the US will be packed with a busy schedule. Modi will visit the country on September 21 for a three-day trip. Along with delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly, he will also attend the Quad summit and meet with members of the Indian diaspora, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. However, he will not be meeting the head of Bangladesh's new government.

An Indian official told Hindustan Times, "It is expected that Prime Minister Modi will hold some bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. However, a meeting with Dr. Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, is not on his schedule."

The media outlet claims that in a recent interview, Dr. Yunus’s comments on India-Bangladesh relations, along with the frequent critical remarks from members of Dhaka’s interim government regarding India, have not been well received in New Delhi.

In the interview, Dr. Yunus criticized former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for commenting on Bangladesh while in exile in India. He suggested that Bangladesh might seek Hasina’s extradition. He also said that India should move beyond the narrative that all political parties in Bangladesh, except Hasina’s Awami League, are “Islamist.”

However, New Delhi stated that Hasina was granted permission to stay in India at short notice and is currently residing in an undisclosed location. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has also declined to comment on any potential request from Bangladesh for Hasina’s extradition.

Analysts believe that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not currently interested in meeting Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government. They argue that if Modi meets Yunus now, the issue of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also have to be discussed, and Modi is not keen to address Hasina's situation at this time. If such discussions were to take place, the topic of Hasina’s return would inevitably arise.

Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said, "Relations between Dhaka and Delhi have become a highly sensitive issue. If India engages in high-level talks with Bangladesh’s interim government now, they will need to address certain issues that India does not want to bring to the table at this time."

He added, "The primary issue is Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India. Bangladesh wants her back, but due to deep ties between Hasina and some Indian leaders, India is reluctant to return her."

"If Modi meets with Yunus now, he won’t be able to avoid discussing these matters," Kugelman said.