When Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs a world leader, it's his way of sending a message to friendly nations. He has ignored protocol and hugged stalwarts like former US President Barack Obama, current president Donald Trump, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, when he met Bangladesh interim government's chief advisor Muhammad Yunus on Friday, the PM greeted him with a brief handshake.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi join a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday. pic.twitter.com/Ig7OPcSYN0
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) April 4, 2025
Meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on Friday, the two leaders are sharing a platform together for the first time since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August last year.
However, Modi shared a photo where he is seen holding both hands of Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay. "Had a great conversation with my good friend, PM Tobgay. India’s friendship with Bhutan is robust. We are cooperating extensively in several sectors," the PM posted.
Had a great conversation with my good friend, PM Tobgay. India’s friendship with Bhutan is robust. We are cooperating extensively in several sectors.@tsheringtobgay pic.twitter.com/hXcVqUYXhX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2025
This comes weeks after the Centre denied Yunus's request to meet PM Modi ahead of his China visit. Following this, in Beijing, Yunus remarked that India's Northeast is "landlocked" and that Bangladesh is the "guardian of the ocean" for the region.
Responding to this, PM Modi on Thursday said India's Northeast is at the heart of the BIMSTEC. The tension in India-Bangladesh ties was reflected in the meeting on Friday.
In the past, Modi has hugged French President Emmanuel Macron, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and several others.
Jaishankar's response to Muhammad Yunus
Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar had also responded to Yunus's comments, saying India's Northeast region has become a connectivity hub for BIMSTEC with rail, road, water and pipeline networks. He added that the cooperation is an integrated outlook, not one subject to "cherry-picking".
The minister said the Bay of Bengal littoral nations share common interests. "Some of it emanates from our history, where other priorities overrode the well-being of this region," Jaishankar added.
