Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Prof. Mohammed Yunus, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met and exchanged greetings during the official dinner of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on Thursday.
The event, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, was hosted by Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who welcomed regional leaders for an evening of informal discussions and diplomatic engagement.
The dinner featured a brief address from Shinawatra, followed by toasts and photo sessions, including Yunus posing with the Thai Prime Minister. Earlier in the day, Yunus had arrived in Thailand to attend the sixth BIMSTEC Summit, and he is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on Friday night.
Amid ongoing diplomatic strains between Bangladesh and India, Dhaka remains hopeful for bilateral discussions between Yunus and Modi on the sidelines of the summit. Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin emphasized the importance of such talks during a media briefing in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Tensions between the two nations have been high since the mass uprising on August 5 last year, which led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.
In the aftermath, India faced criticism for allegedly spreading misinformation about Bangladesh and taking controversial actions along the shared border, further straining relations.
Given this context, any dialogue between Yunus and Modi is seen as a crucial step toward restoring stability and strengthening trade relations.
The BIMSTEC Summit, which brings together leaders from Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, serves as a key platform for fostering regional cooperation and diplomatic engagement.
