In a long-overdue and welcome development, Indo-Bangladesh relations have begun to warm due mainly to important new overtures from India. Hopefully this will result in a productive meeting between Chief Adviser Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand next week.
The first example of the improvement in relations came from media reports in The Hindu about Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar distancing India from the autocratic regime led by Sheikh Hasina and opening the door to potentially reinvigorating the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which Chief Adviser Yunus has been advocating.
The second overture was a warm letter from PM Modi to Chief Adviser Yunus on Bangladesh’s National Day, March 26. In it, according to media reports, PM Modi wrote, “We remain committed to advancing this partnership, driven by our common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity, and based on mutual sensitivity to each other’s interests and concerns.” The reference to “mutual sensitivity to each other’s interests and concerns” was particularly encouraging.
He added, “Our shared history and sacrifices have laid the foundation of our bilateral partnership. The spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh continues to remain a guiding light for our relationship, which has flourished across multiple domains, bringing tangible benefits to our people.”
There has been speculation that the reason for this improvement in relations is Chief Adviser Yunus’ trip to China this week, where he spoke at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and signed multiple agreements with China. Regardless of the cause of the improvement in Indo-Bangladesh relations, it is welcome and needed for South Asia regional stability and prosperity. Let’s hope it continues to gain steam in the days ahead.
