Following the monument conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muhammad Yunus, the chief director of the time government of Bangladesh, enthusiasm laced with prudence seems to be the prevailing sentiment in Bangladeshi news media. This occurs at a time when there isn’t really a discussion regarding what accurately took place during the meeting. American sources have disputed the account provided by Yunus ‘ press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, particularly in regard to Sheikh Hasina.
Importantly, this was the first summit-level meeting between the two countries since Sheikh Hasina’s state was ousted on August 5, 2024. Conflicts between the neighbors, who share a close relationship with history, had recently gotten worse in recent months. The conference, which took place on the outside of Bimstec in Bangkok, was viewed by the most well-known media sources in Bangladesh as a much-needed icebreaker.
Bangladesh Pratidin
went one step further and declared it a political defeat for Bangladesh. India had opted to avoid high-level relationships with Dhaka for eight months, according to the report, and it argued that any discussions regarding Hasina may be ruled out. So, they thought it was a breakthrough that a 40-minute meeting took place in a second nation. According to another daily, Naya Diganta, getting this meeting organized merely enhances Muhammad Yunus ‘ reputation as a Nobel Prize winner.
The Hasina issue
The” sources” in India specifically objected to remarks made by Yunus ‘ press secretary Alam in a Facebook post, calling the claims about the meeting in Bangkok “mischievous” and “politically motivated.” Alam claimed that Yunus requested Hasina’s abduction and that Modi’s answer was” not bad.” He even claimed that Modi once said,” We saw her] Hasina’s ] disrespectful behavior toward you [Yunus].”
Regardless of what was truly said, the notion that Yunus had a direct impact on Hasina’s extradition dominated Saturday and quickly became a recurring theme in Sunday’s articles. It won Yunus praise from numerous media outlets of all kinds of philosophical backgrounds. Hasina continues to be a probable stumbling block in the standardization of Indo-Bangla relations, despite being generally added as a disclaimer.
Politic eagles in the internet
Jugantor featured a detailed front-page story quoting various foreign policy voices. The article began with the assertion that no real improvement in ties was possible without Hasina’s extradition. Former Dhaka University professor Shahiduzzaman warned of a long-drawn process, predicting that India would not hand over Hasina, while Bangladesh would refuse to honor what he called ‘biased treaties’ signed by her. He advocated exploring new trade relationships, including with Pakistan.
Mashfee Shams, the original minister, echoed a more measured voice, expressing hope that the Hasina factor might be overcome. The conference was described as a political victory by M. Jashim Uddin, director of North South University’s Center for Peace Studies, contending that India had to rescind Yunus’s legitimacy.
Bangladesh Pratidin
asserted that India was awaiting the upcoming election to adopt a strong position on Bangladesh and that this was preventing the relationship’s standard course from happening. It referred to the gathering as a political victory, asserting that Yunus had expressly expressed the desire for India to treat Bangladesh as an equal.
Words like “equality” and “fairness”
Prothom alom
The most well-known newspaper in the country reacted to the fact that there was no actual discussion of the pending water agreement in its editorial, praising the urgency of constant communication and holding meetings to resolve the situation doesn’t break the deadlock. It urged India to stop former prime minister Hasina from making contentious notes while residing in New Delhi. The relationship between two nations must be founded on justice, justice, and brotherhood, the editor emphasized.
Regarding the question of India’s need for an “inclusive poll,” which is a veiled advice that the Awami League should be a part of the process, Prothom Alo questioned India’s earlier solitude when Hasina reportedly bulldozed the opposition to secure numerous victories. A front-page research on Sunday lamented that the card problem, particularly India’s abrupt decrease in issuance of Bangladeshis, was overlooked. China was also mentioned in the discussions, with Modi apparently saying he would not like a” second vehicle” in the relationship.
Naya Diganta suggested that Yunus’s recent China visit may have paved the way for this summit. During that trip, Yunus reportedly described India’s North East as landlocked and dependent on Bangladesh, calling Bangladesh the “only guardian of the ocean”—remarks that sent shockwaves in India. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma called the comments ‘offensive’ and warned against ‘longstanding agendas,’ emphasizing infrastructure development in the Chicken’s Neck region. In a thinly veiled statement before his Thailand departure, PM Modi described North East India as ‘integral to BIMSTEC,’ widely interpreted as a message to Yunus.
Bangladeshi newspaper
Naya Diganta
believes that Bangladesh was in charge of establishing a working relationship while India as the larger mate was tasked with doing so. In a effusive manner, it asserts that Mohammad Younus has raised all the controversial issues and made it evident to India that the days of stretching arms are over. a different journal,
Amader Samay
even brought up the importance of equality and justice for a lasting bond between two nations.
What do people need?
According to Farid Hossain, former Minister of Press for Bangladesh at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, one tangible way to boost connection would be for India to resume normal card companies. Hossain claimed in a statement to Soon Online that the Modi-Yunus meeting had created good media coverage and that many Bangladeshi politicians were appreciative of it. He did point out that Hasina’s abduction was doubtful in the near future and that the general public was anticipating it. Fortschritte in business standardization and the Teesta waters issue had in contrast help to marginalize hardliners. Farid likewise downplayed the possibility that Bangladesh might not abide by existing contracts.
He concluded by stating that, despite often favoring extreme opinions, diplomatic cohesion and reciprocity were necessary to restore sanity between the two countries. And in his opinion, the Modi-Yunus meeting only marked the beginning of a sincere relationship.
