United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser’s High Representative Khalilur Rahman on Tuesday said Bangladesh has formally urged India not to allow former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to use its territory as a platform for making anti-state or anti-government remarks. He made the statement while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, following recent bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit between Dr Yunus and Indian PM Narendra Modi, held on April 4 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok. He mentioned that during the meeting, they placed a request regarding Hasina’s extradition and both sides will work on it, Khalilur said, adding, “Prime Minister Modi clearly stated that India’s relationship with Bangladesh is not based on any individual or political party, but on state-to-state ties. We agree with that and wish to strengthen bilateral relations on that basis.” “We have our own Gaza, but no protest,” says Khalilur  Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir were also present at the event. Minority repression ‘hurts national progress’ Addressing a separate issue, Khalilur said that suppression of minority communities only harms a country’s development. He blamed the legacy of British colonial rule for sowing communal divisions that still persist in the subcontinent. “Whenever we hold discussions with India, they bring up the issue of minority repression in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that although the British are gone, the problems they created still persist. Dividing communities was a colonial tactic, and both our nations continue to suffer from it,” he said. He warned that excluding minorities from the mainstream weakens a nation’s overall capacity. “When people cannot participate in national life, the country loses out,” he noted. Khalilur also addressed the political violence that followed the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. “We acknowledge that in the five to seven days following August 5, there was effectively no functioning government. During that period, many incidents took place. Unfortunately, members and supporters of the fallen party, regardless of their religion, faced various forms of violence. This is deeply regrettable. No one should take the law into their own hands,” he said. Water treaty negotiations ongoing Khalilur mentioned that discussions are ongoing with India to renew the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which expires in 2026. Rohingya repatriation hinges on Arakan stability: Khalilur Rahman “Both countries are maintaining communication to ensure a smooth negotiation process. We believe India will extend constructive cooperation,” he said. He also raised concerns over the Teesta River, pointing out that 14 per cent of Bangladesh’s population lives in the Teesta basin. He noted that their livelihoods, the region’s ecology, and future are all dependent on the availability of water. Without water, the area becomes uninhabitable, he said. Khalilur emphasised that ensuring a minimum flow of water in the Teesta basin is a top priority for the government, adding that they cannot allow such a large portion of population to live in a precarious condition. “That is why we said India to sign a water-sharing agreement while also exploring alternative solutions,” he added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep respect for Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and spoke highly of his works during their bilateral meeting held in Bangkok on Friday. "We saw her (Hasina’s) disrespectful behaviour towards you. But we continued to respect and honour you," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying, referring to one of the things he said in the meeting while India had good relations with Sheikh Hasina. The Press Secretary made the remarks in a post shared from his verified Facebook account. Dr Yunus seeks Thaksin’s support to strengthen ties, resolve Rohingya crisis And when Professor Yunus raised the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, Alam said, the response was not negative. "We are confident Hasina will one day be extradited to Dhaka and we will watch the trial of the century," the Press Secretary said. Alam said it was quite clear India wants to chart a new course in its relations with Bangladesh. "The Indian Prime Minister told Professor Yunus several times during the meeting that India's relations are with the people of Bangladesh, not with any single party or individuals," said the Press Secretary. Ready to provide further humanitarian support: Dr Yunus tells Myanmar PM Prof Yunus has said several times in recent months that Bangladesh wants "the best of relations" with India. "But it has to be based on fairness, equity and mutual respect," Alam added.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday conveyed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the reports of attacks on the minorities were "hugely inflated" and bulk of them were "fake" news as Modi shared his "serious concerns" for the safety and well-being of Hindus and other minorities. Responding to Prime Minister Modi's concern over the condition of minorities in Bangladesh, the Chief Adviser also asked the Indian leader to send reporters to Bangladesh to investigate the alleged attacks themselves. During their meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, Dr Yunus said he has instituted an effective system for monitoring every incident of religious and gender violence in the country and his government was taking serious actions to stop any occurrence of such incidents, according to Chief Adviser's press wing. Through his social media handle, Modi said India remains committed to a "constructive and people-centric" relationship with Bangladesh. "I reiterated India’s support for peace, stability, inclusivity and democracy in Bangladesh," he said, adding that they discussed measures to prevent illegal border crossings and expressed India's "serious concerns" for the safety and well-being of Hindus and other minorities. Dr Yunus urges Bhutan to make investment in Bangladesh In a separate media briefing in Bangkok, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of the condition of minorities in Bangladesh candidly during his conversation with Prof Yunus. PM Modi conveyed India’s "deep concerns" on the matter and highlighted the broader societal implications of these developments. The Prime Minister also made it clear that the responsibility for addressing these issues lies with the government of Bangladesh, Misri said. Modi expressed his hope that the government would fulfill its responsibilities with seriousness and ensure that these matters are properly investigated and addressed. Responding to a question, the Indian Foreign Secretary said as far as the issue of election is concerned, it is well understood that in any democracy, regular and "inclusive elections" are a vital component. Prime Minister Modi shared his views on this matter with Prof Yunus and expressed his hope that, moving forward, they will see a "democratic, inclusive, and stable" Bangladesh, Misri said. It is universally acknowledged that elections play a crucial role in achieving that vision, said the Indian Foreign Secretary. Bangladesh urges Thailand to ease visa procedures Responding to a question on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, Misri said as far as Sheikh Hasina is concerned and the reference that was made in that context from the Bangladesh side - yes, this matter was raised during discussions. "As our spokesperson has already informed you earlier, we have indeed received a communication on this issue. At this point, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the subject," said the Indian Foreign Secretary. Both leaders - Dr Yunus and Modi - concluded their "fruitful and honest dialogue" by wishing each other good health and personal well-being and extended their best wishes for continued peace, progress and prosperity for the people of both countries.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said they have no update to share regarding a likely bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit in Bangkok, Thailand early next month. “On the meeting that you asked, a bilateral meeting, I don't have any update to share at this point in time,” said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. He made the remarks at a weekly briefing in New Delhi when a journalist wanted to know whether there was a likelihood of Prime Minister Modi meeting the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Prof Yunus on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit. Responding to a separate question, the MEA Spokesperson said Bangladesh-India relationship is a wide canvas and they have been engaged with Bangladesh on several issues - development cooperation, economic matters and on issues of connectivity. 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 upcoming Bimstec Summit in Bangkok. Dr Yunus is scheduled to attend the Bimstec Summit, to be held on April 4 in Bangkok, raising hope for a first-ever in person meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines. Rohingyas are victims of racial discrimination and prolonged statelessness: Prof Yunus Thailand will host the 6th Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BImstec) and Bangladesh will take responsibility as the next chair of Bimstec there, officials said. Thailand has taken over the Bimstec Chairmanship from Sri Lanka since 30 March 2022. Bimstec consists of seven member countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Bimstec Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey recently said the Summit will have some significant outcomes. "It will set a direction for the future of Bimstec," he said. Dr Yunus said Dhaka has always insisted that Bangladesh’s relationship with India will be the best relationship ever. Because, he explained, the fate of Bangladesh and India is tied together and they cannot be isolated from each other. “So, we are always encouraging everything to happen in the best possible way,” Dr Yunus told BBC in a most recent interview, adding that the clouds due to some fake news are not part of the relationship that the two countries enjoy. The Chief Adviser thinks Bangladesh and India have an excellent relationship. “We will continue to do it,” he said, describing India as a good business partner of Bangladesh. Dr Yunus is scheduled to leave Dhaka on March 26 for China and both the countries are looking forward to a bilateral meeting on March 28 in Beijing between the two leaders – Dr Yunus and Chinese President Xi Jinping.