Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus writes to PM Modi affirming commitment to bilateral cooperation despite political tensions post-Hasina era. Eid-ul-Adha greetings exchanged signal cautious diplomatic reset.
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We Must Move Forward": Bangladesh’s Yunus Urges Renewed Bilateral Harmony in Letter to PM Modi
By Special Correspondent | June 9, 2025
New Delhi/Dhaka – In a rare public overture amid escalating regional tensions, Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has penned a diplomatic yet emotionally resonant letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for mutual respect and continued cooperation between the two nations. The letter, dated June 6, 2025, was made public by the interim government in Dhaka via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
Yunus’s message came in response to Modi’s earlier Eid-ul-Adha greeting and serves as one of the few high-level communications between the two governments since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 and the subsequent banning of her Awami League party—a move that deeply altered Bangladesh’s political landscape and triggered friction with New Delhi.
“The spirit of mutual respect and understanding will continue to guide our nations to work together for the wellbeing of our peoples,” wrote Yunus, echoing a call for solidarity amidst political upheaval.
Bangladesh’s Yunus Calls for Mutual Respect in Letter to PM Modi Amid Strained Ties
Diplomacy in the Shadow of a Crisis
The carefully worded letter comes at a time when India-Bangladesh relations are navigating their most precarious phase in over a decade. Sheikh Hasina, once seen as a regional ally of India, was forced into exile and now resides in New Delhi. The new interim regime led by Muhammad Yunus—appointed under a military-backed transition framework—has taken a sharply nationalist turn, accusing India of overreach and undermining Bangladesh’s sovereignty.
Sources in Dhaka indicate that the Eid exchange was internally debated, with some factions opposing any direct communication with Modi. However, Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and seasoned statesman, overruled the objections, reportedly saying, “We must move forward—not back.”
The Eid Message: A Bridge or a Bandage?
Modi’s Eid-ul-Adha message, dated June 4, emphasized the festival’s universal values of sacrifice, compassion, and brotherhood—words that echoed through the subcontinent during the tense festive week.
“Eid-ul-Adha is an integral part of India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage,” Modi wrote. “Its timeless values are essential in building a peaceful and inclusive world.”
Yunus responded with warmth, aligning his message with global humanitarian values. He described Eid as “a time of reflection” that encourages “generosity and unity” across borders.
Diplomatic analysts say that while the Eid letters are symbolic, they reflect a “backchannel nudge” to resume structured dialogue. “This is not reconciliation, but it’s an important de-escalation,” said Dr. Taniya Rahman, South Asia Affairs Fellow at the International Policy Centre in Dhaka.
A Complex Past, A Complicated Future
Tensions began escalating sharply after the Hasina government’s removal in August 2024 amid mass protests and military intervention. India was quick to offer safe passage to Hasina—a move viewed by the new regime as direct interference. Relations worsened in May 2025, when the Awami League was formally banned, triggering diplomatic freeze and retaliatory rhetoric from Dhaka.
The situation has been further complicated by growing economic distress in Bangladesh. The country is currently grappling with a $10 billion trade imbalance with India, an energy import crisis, and food security concerns. Some economic experts believe cooperation with India—especially on energy and supply chains—is necessary to stabilize the region.
Public Reactions: A Divided Sentiment
Public sentiment in Bangladesh remains fractured. While many citizens welcomed the gesture as a sign of maturity in leadership, others expressed skepticism.
“Yunus is speaking of unity, but what about our sovereignty?” asked Ziaur Rahman, a university lecturer in Chittagong. “India must first answer for its role in backing Hasina before we talk friendship.”
Meanwhile, in India, reactions were more muted. Swapan Dasgupta, a senior BJP ideologue, publicly advised PM Modi to “avoid any direct one-on-one” with Yunus, stating that “India should not appear to validate a government that came to power undemocratically.”
The Road Ahead: Reset or Rhetoric?
Despite the goodwill expressed, few believe the Eid exchange alone can resolve years of deep-seated distrust.
Senior Indian diplomats familiar with the file noted that while there is “no appetite” in Delhi for further escalations, the Modi government will tread cautiously, especially ahead of the regional elections in West Bengal, where cross-border sentiment matters politically.
However, there is also a growing realization that maintaining frozen ties with Dhaka could hurt India’s eastern security grid, especially with China increasing its strategic presence in Bangladesh’s ports and infrastructure.
Conclusion: Words Matter—But So Will Actions
In the high-stakes chessboard of South Asian geopolitics, symbolic gestures can have outsized impact. Muhammad Yunus’s letter may not bridge the deep divides between India and Bangladesh, but it signals a rare moment of pause—a flicker of diplomacy in a landscape dominated by posturing.
Whether this exchange becomes a catalyst for formal dialogue or fades into the annals of missed opportunities depends on how both capitals choose to act in the coming weeks.
For now, it’s a message worth noting—wrapped in the folds of festivity, but carrying the weight of two nations’ futures.
