Muhammad Yunus Addresses India-Bangladesh Tensions: Cites Sheikh Hasina's Refuge and SAARC Revival Challenges

'Bangladesh Has Problems With India': Muhammad Yunus Discusses Sheikh Hasina and SAARC Revival

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus stirred controversy during his visit to New York, where he openly stated that Bangladesh-India relations are currently strained due to India's disapproval of last year's student protests that led to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ousting.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Yunus addressed the possibility of reviving SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), suggesting Bangladesh could serve as a crucial bridge for regional trade and ocean access.

"We have problems with India right now because they didn't like what the students have done," Yunus stated candidly, adding that "fake news" from Indian media sources has exacerbated tensions between the neighboring countries.

"A lot of fake news is coming from India, propaganda that it's an Islamist movement," the Nobel Peace Prize winner remarked.

Yunus directly addressed what he called "the Hasina problem," accusing India of sheltering the former premier. "India is hosting Hasina, who has created problems...that creates tension between India and Bangladesh," he stated.

Since the student uprising in Bangladesh last August, India has repeatedly expressed concerns regarding anti-India rhetoric and threats directed toward India's northeastern region. New Delhi has also highlighted increasing attacks on minority communities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh. The Yunus administration has not addressed these concerns substantively, contributing to a continuing decline in bilateral relations.

In his advocacy for SAARC revival, Yunus again referenced India, suggesting that New Delhi's political resistance has impeded regional cooperation. During a meeting with Sergio Gor, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia and US Ambassador-designate to India, Yunus stated, "SAARC is not working because it doesn't fit into the politics of one country."

He also expressed Bangladesh's interest in potentially joining ASEAN, noting that integration with Southeast Asian economies could significantly boost the country's development trajectory.

SAARC has been inactive since its last summit in 2014. The planned 2016 summit in Islamabad was canceled following the terrorist attack in Uri, which India attributed to Pakistan. India has since maintained that Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism makes SAARC meetings untenable.

While still formally a SAARC member, India has redirected its focus toward BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), which excludes Pakistan. India has utilized BIMSTEC as a platform to convey concerns to Bangladesh. During a meeting with Yunus at the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of minority protection and cautioned against "rhetoric that vitiates the environment," following controversial comments from Bangladeshi leaders regarding India's Northeast.

During his New York visit, Yunus also announced that his interim government is actively preparing for free, fair, and peaceful general elections scheduled for February 2025, offering hope to Bangladesh's 126 million voters who have not experienced genuine democratic processes for 15 years.