Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit on Friday - which is being viewed as potentially the most significant development in Dhaka-Delhi relations since the July Uprising in Bangladesh.

This will be the first-ever in-person meeting between the two South Asian leaders since the formation of Bangladesh's interim government last August 8, following the fall of the previous government three days earlier.

6th BIMSTEC Summit Friday; Bangladesh to assume chairmanship for next 2 years

Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder confirmed to UNB on Thursday that the meeting will be held around 12pm (Bangkok time, 10am in Bangladesh).

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin recently said the strain in the relationship between Bangladesh and India can be overcome if a meeting is held between Prof Yunus and Narendra Modi.

This will be the biggest India-Bangladesh diplomatic development since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, and subsequent flight to Delhi (where she remains), observers say.

BIMSTEC: Dr Yunus and Modi join official dinner, meet each other

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Thursday hosted an official dinner for BIMSTEC leaders where Dr Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Modi met each other, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Azad told UNB.

Earlier, Bangladesh approached India through the diplomatic channel to arrange a meeting between Dr Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the Summit.

Dr Yunus is also scheduled to hold a number of meetings with BIMSTEC leaders on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit on Friday, including meetings with Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Thai Prime Minister.

In his pre-departure statement from India, Modi said he will meet the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries to discuss ways for strengthening collaboration, keeping the interests of people in mind.

"I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with the interests of our people in mind," Modi said as he began his visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka on Thursday.

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During Eid, Indian Prime Minister Modi greeted Chief Adviser Dr Yunus and wished the people of Bangladesh, seeking stronger friendship between the two countries.

"May the bonds of friendship among our countries grow stronger," Modi said in his message.