Dhaka: Bangladesh Interim Government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 4, on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, officials in Dhaka said on Wednesday.
“I can tell you that the meeting will take place,” a senior official in Dhaka told UNB without elaborating further.
Meanwhile, New Delhi also hinted positively about the meeting. “It is expected that they’ll meet,” a source in New Delhi told UNB.
The interim government said there is a high possibility that the two leaders will hold a meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit.
“We have requested for the meeting officially. We have reasonable grounds to remain hopeful. There is a high possibility to see the meeting,” High Representative to the Chief Advisor Khalilur Rahman
told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy.
Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the media briefing.
This will be their first in-person meeting since the formation of the army-backed interim government led by Yunus on August 8 last year, after the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina regime.
The Chief Advisor is scheduled to leave for Bangkok on April 3 to attend the Summit.
The Chief Adviser will also hold bilateral meetings with other BIMSTEC leaders on the sidelines.
Earlier, Bangladesh approached India through the diplomatic channel to arrange a meeting between Yunus and Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the Summit.
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin recently said the strain in the relations between Bangladesh and India could be overcome if the meeting is held between Yunus and Modi.
Prime Minister Modi greeted Chief Advisor Yunus and wished the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, seeking stronger friendship between the two countries.
“May the bonds of friendship among our countries grow stronger,” PM Modi said in his message shared by chief advisor’s press wing on Monday night, UNB reported.
UNI
