Ahead of BIMSTEC summit, doubts persist over Modi-Yunus meeting

Bangladesh’s High Representative for the Rohingya refugee crisis, Khalilur Rahman, informed reporters in Dhaka that there is “sufficient possibility” of a meeting between PM Modi and Prof. Yunus on the sidelines of the summit. File
| Photo Credit: Agencies

A day before leaders from south and southeast Asian nations gather for the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, doubts persisted over the possibility of a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin told reporters in Dhaka on Wednesday (April 2, 2025) that a meeting has been slotted, though the Ministry of External Affairs refused to confirm it.

Also read: PM Modi to visit Thailand, Sri Lanka from April 3-6

BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is holding its sixth summit in a physical format, for the first time since the end of the pandemic; the last such in-person summit was held in Kathmandu in 2018. The fifth BIMSTEC summit was held virtually in 2022, under the leadership of Sri Lanka.

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This year’s theme is a “prosperous, resilient, and open BIMSTEC”. The summit will lead to the adoption of the Declaration of 5th BIMSTEC, a press note from the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka has announced. The Secretariat also said member states are expected to sign an agreement on maritime transport cooperation at the summit.

On the sidelines

Plans are underway for the Prime Minister to hold bilateral meeting with several dignitaries, and Bangladesh’s High Representative for the Rohingya refugee crisis, Khalilur Rahman, informed reporters in Dhaka that there is “sufficient possibility” of a meeting between Mr. Modi and Prof. Yunus on the sidelines of the summit.

Upon arriving in Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on Friday (April 3, 2025), the Prime Minister will meet his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra, which will be followed by a dinner hosted in honour of the visiting Heads of government and Heads of State. Mr. Modi will also meet Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn before leaving for a State visit to Colombo from April 4 to 6.

Quake draws spotlight to region

The BIMSTEC summit has gained attention in recent weeks as it is being held against the backdrop of the devastating earthquake that hit Myanmar last Thursday (March 27, 2025). India was among the first responders to the devastation in Myanmar. Apart from India, other BIMSTEC members like Bangladesh and Thailand have also sent relief material to the quake-hit nation.

Also read: PM Modi speaks with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as India launches ‘Operation Brahma’ for quake-hit Myanmar

After years of wrangling, BIMSTEC finally framed a common charter in 2022, but bilateral relations among the member countries remain a matter of concern. While Bangladesh-Myanmar ties have been marred by the Rohingya crisis, the relationship between India and Bangladesh has remained uncertain since the removal of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.