Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks along with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, in Washington, DC on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed India’s “concerns” about the evolving situation in Bangladesh during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday.
An interim government headed by Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus has been in charge in Dhaka since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, 2024.
Addressing the media after the discussion in Washington DC, Mr. Misri said that India continues to hope for a “constructive” relationship with the interim government in Dhaka, which has been critical of New Delhi on several counts, including the fact that it continues to host Ms. Hasina.
‘No deep state role’
On Thursday, the issue came up when Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump interacted with the media in the U.S. capital. In response to a question on the possible involvement of the U.S. “deep state” in the downfall of the Hasina government, Mr. Trump said, “There was no role for our deep state. This is something that the Prime Minister has been working on for a long time. I will leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister.” Mr. Modi, however, chose not to address the Bangladesh issue.
The allegations of the U.S. bureaucratic apparatus’ involvement in the developments in Bangladesh gained currency during the last months of the Hasina regime. On multiple occasions, Ms. Hasina suggested that a certain “white person” had met her, threatening her government and Bangladesh to surrender control over the strategically important St. Martin’s Island near the Chittagong coastline. The Biden administration, however, did not substantiate the allegations that were made by Ms. Hasina, who had to flee to India on August 5, 2024.
India’s concerns
When Mr. Misri briefed the media later on Thursday, he confirmed that Bangladesh had featured in the discussion between Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump.
“The Prime Minister shared his views and indeed, his concerns with regard to recent developments in Bangladesh and how India sees the situation. I think we hope that the situation in Bangladesh also move forward in a direction where we can pursue relations in a constructive and stable way with them,” he said. “But there are concerns about that situation. And the Prime Minister shared those views with President Trump,” he added.
The interim government of Bangladesh is yet to comment on Mr. Misri’s remarks.
The U.S. in Dhaka
The United States has been a strong supporter of transparent elections in Bangladesh and the previous U.S. ambassador Peter Haas had campaigned for this before Bangladesh’s last election in January 2024.
The Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Tracey Ann Jacobson, met Bangladesh’s Adviser on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Asif Nazrul, as well as Professor Yunus last month regarding judicial reform, counter-terrorism, and development. The Bangladesh media also reported that Ms. Jacobson has continued her interactions with various stakeholders in Bangladesh, and earlier this week met with Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman to discuss issues of mutual cooperation.
Published – February 14, 2025 10:51 pm IST