India Cautions Bangladesh Against Normalizing Terrorism Amid Regional Tensions

New Delhi – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain in Muscat on February 16, 2025, during the 8th Indian Ocean Conference. The discussions focused on bilateral relations and regional cooperation under BIMSTEC.

During the meeting, Advisor Hossain emphasized the importance of convening the SAARC Standing Committee and urged India to consider participating. In response, Minister Jaishankar highlighted that the stagnation of SAARC activities is widely attributed to specific countries' actions, implicitly referring to Pakistan. He also cautioned Bangladesh against normalizing terrorism.

This meeting marked the first high-level engagement between India and Bangladesh's interim government since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The interim government, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, has faced criticism for alleged hostile statements towards India and concerns over the treatment of minorities, particularly the Hindu community, in Bangladesh.

Both leaders also discussed the possibility of a meeting between Chief Advisor Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, scheduled for April 2-4, 2025. Bangladesh is set to assume the chairmanship of BIMSTEC at this summit.

The bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh is at a critical juncture, with both nations expressing a desire to address challenges and enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, border management, and regional stability.

References:

1. India TV News – Jaishankar Meets Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor, Discusses Bilateral Ties & BIMSTEC (2025-02-16)

2. BD News 24 – Bangladesh Urges India to Reconsider SAARC Standing Committee Meeting (2025-02-16)

3. Money Control – Jaishankar’s Strong Message to Bangladesh on Bilateral Ties (2025-02-16)

4. The Indian Express – India Warns Bangladesh on Terrorism Normalization (2025-02-16)

5. Forum IAS – India-Bangladesh Relations Post Government Change (2025-02-16)

6.  Reuters – Bangladesh Asks India to Stop Former PM Hasina from Making 'False Statements' (2025-02-07)

7. AP News – Bangladesh’s Government Responds to Independence Monument Controversy (2025-02-09)