PM Modi to Muhammad Yunus: ‘Avoid Rhetoric That Vitiates Environment’

PM Modi to Muhammad Yunus: Narendra Modi, prime minister of India, told Bangladesh chief advisor Muhammad Yunus on Friday to avoid any incendiary statements and instead start working toward creating a positive and pragmatic relationship with India Department of External Affairs.

This was the first time that Modi had spoken with Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of Bangladesh, and he told him to refrain from such statements, saying that any comments that contaminate the atmosphere are to be avoided. The Prime Minister said that this would be good for the two countries.

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This comment was made by PM Modi while talking to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh for the first time, wherein he asserted that "Any rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided." This would be, according to the Prime Minister, mutually beneficial.

These two heads of states actually met on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok where Muhammad Yunus, the newly appointed chief adviser of an interim government in Dhaka after Hasina's departure, received the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the talks were also fruitful in cooperation between India and Bangladesh, which actually yielded some concrete dividends for the people of both countries.

Only last week, PM Modi made these statements, even while Muhammad Yunus was speaking with China, who said: "the Northeast of India is landlocked; Bangladesh is guardian of ocean access to the region."

The Bangladesh leader's statement drew criticism from Indian leaders, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar invoking the strategic role of India in BIMSTEC.

"We, after all, have the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, of almost 6,500 km. India shares borders with five BIMSTEC members, connects most of them, but also provides much of the interface between the Indian sub-continent and ASEAN. Our North-Eastern region in particular is emerging as a connectivity hub for the BIMSTEC, with a myriad network of roads, railways, waterways, grids and pipelines," Jaishankar said in a statement.

India on Sheikh Hasina's extradition

To a question regarding whether any formal request was made by Bangladesh to extradite Sheikh Hasina to Dhaka, Vikram Misri, the foreign secretary, confirmed receipt of such a request.

Both leaders discussed Bangladeshi requests for Hasina's extradition, Misri stated without going into further detail.

Sino-Indian ties, have gone extra continental, after Indian forces entered Bangladesh when the ousted Sheikh Hasina's government was in shelter there in the face of massive student-led protests.

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PM Modi raised concerns over the safety of minorities

During his talks with Yunus, he also expressed concerns for the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.

"PM Modi reiterated India's support for democracy, stability, peace, progress, and inclusiveness in Bangladesh. Prof. Yunus's hope for forging a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh was underscored. The PM also urged that any rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided," said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Modi on border security issues

Regarding security and border issues, Modi stressed that strict law enforcement should be adopted to prevent illegal crossings from either country, especially at night.

"On the border, strict enforcement of the law and prevention of illegal border crossings, especially at night, are necessary for maintaining border security and stability," the statement read.

He further proposed that the two countries should hold a bilateral meeting to assess their areas of cooperation in an effort to strengthen their ties further.

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