Snubbed By Trump, Bangladesh’s Md Yunus Races To Mend Ties With India, Court China
Facing internal pressure with student opposition, a call for early elections from the army, and no support from the Trump administration, Bangladesh’s interim leader now feels the need for allies
A joint press briefing between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, where Bangladesh was briefly discussed, seems to have pushed interim leader Md Yunus to mend fences with India and seek support from China.
During the meeting, Trump seemingly left Bangladesh’s issue in the hands of PM Modi. Adding to this, Md Yunus’s inability to secure high-level communication with the Trump administration further suggests a shift in American stance towards him, particularly when compared to the warm reception he enjoyed during the Biden administration. Often called the ‘Darling of Democrats’, Yunus was accorded a red-carpet welcome by not just Biden but also the Clintons in the United States.
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The change in American attitude is now driving Yunus to urgently repair ties with India and strengthen relations with China. A planned visit to China from March 26-29, which includes attending the BOAO Forum and a meeting with Xi Jinping, signifies this effort. Following this, Bangladesh is seeking a meeting with PM Modi in Bangkok at the BIMSTEC Summit in April.
Yunus, in a recent BBC interview, downplayed concerns about deteriorating relations with India, attributing any tension to misinformation. He highlighted the strong historical ties between the two countries in a statement widely seen as an attempt to pave the way for the meeting with PM Modi.
Recent meetings between India and Bangladesh, including the 86th Joint Committee meeting on the Ganga water treaty, indicate a move towards resolving bilateral issues. Bangladesh acknowledged that India was not withholding Ganga water, a recurring point of contention.
Facing internal pressure with student opposition, a call for early elections from the army, and no support from the Trump administration, Bangladesh’s interim leader finds himself in a precarious political situation. Soaring inflation and a declining economy further add to his woes. In these trying times, mending fences with India and seeking support from China seem to be his only recourse.
Despite India’s consistent efforts to foster a positive relationship with Bangladesh, Yunus, during his time backed by the US, often raised issues that strained ties. India, under PM Modi, was the first to raise concerns about the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, a sentiment later echoed by Trump. India remains worried about Bangladesh’s growing proximity to Pakistan, the resurgence of banned terrorist groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir, and violence against minorities. India’s concerns were conveyed during high-level diplomatic exchanges, including visits by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
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