Head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus has firmly dismissed concerns that the country could descend into chaos akin to Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina in power.
In a direct message to New Delhi, Yunus called on India to move beyond this narrative and focus on fostering stronger bilateral relations.
Yunus, who was appointed Chief Adviser after Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power, argued that recent attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh were “more political than communal” and criticised India’s portrayal of these incidents.
He insisted that the violence is a consequence of political turmoil rather than religious conflict.
“These attacks are political in nature and not communal. And India is propagating these incidents in a big way. We have not said that we can’t do anything; we have said that we are doing everything,” he said.
The attacks, which targeted Hindu businesses, properties, and temples, erupted during student-led protests following Hasina's departure from the country on August 5. Yunus downplayed the severity of these incidents, stating they were exaggerated in the context of broader political upheaval.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate stressed that the idea of Bangladesh becoming another Afghanistan without Hasina’s leadership was misleading and urged India to reassess its perspective.
“The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, BNP is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only. India is captivated by this narrative. India needs to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is just another neighbour,” Yunus asserted.
Yunus also made a plea for greater cooperation to mend the strained ties between Bangladesh and India, describing the current relationship as being “at a low.”
“We need to work together to improve this relationship,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, the military-backed caretaker government has reportedly conveyed to India that Sheikh Hasina must maintain silence until Bangladesh requests her extradition.
“If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh (government) wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet,” Yunus noted.
Tensions have been simmering between the two countries, with New Delhi expressing concerns over the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his recent Independence Day speech, voiced hope for stability in the violence-hit nation and reassured that 1.4 billion Indians are closely watching the situation.
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