April 4, 2025: In a symbolic gesture of goodwill, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus presented Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a framed throwback photograph during their bilateral meeting in Bangkok. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit, marked their first official engagement since the Sheikh Hasina government was ousted in August last year. The photograph, taken on January 3, 2015, at the 102nd Indian Science Congress in Mumbai, captured a moment of recognition when Modi awarded Yunus a gold medal.

The Bangladeshi government issued a statement confirming the exchange, describing it as a moment of shared history. According to Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Yunus presented the photograph as a token of friendship. The two leaders shared smiles and posed for a brief photo session, signaling an attempt to maintain diplomatic engagement despite lingering tensions between the two nations. Sources suggest that Bangladesh had sought the meeting, and anticipation had been building after Modi and Yunus were seen sitting together at the BIMSTEC leaders’ dinner the previous evening. Their cordial handshake and interaction hinted at an effort to keep communication open even as diplomatic strains persist.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have been increasingly fraught in recent months, with Yunus’s remarks during a recent visit to China adding to the friction. While in Beijing, he emphasized Bangladesh’s strategic importance as India’s only gateway to the Indian Ocean and encouraged China to expand its influence in the region. His statements drew sharp reactions from Indian officials, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Ministry of External Affairs, who viewed them as an attempt to shift regional dynamics. Although Modi has not publicly responded to Yunus’s comments, he used the BIMSTEC summit to reaffirm that India’s northeastern states remain central to regional cooperation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also addressed the issue, warning against selective diplomatic partnerships.

Adding to the complexities of the relationship are recent reports of increasing attacks on Hindus and Hindu temples in Bangladesh, raising concerns in India. Another contentious issue is India’s repeated refusal to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, despite multiple requests from Dhaka. These unresolved matters continue to cast a shadow over bilateral ties.

Despite the tensions, Modi recently extended a letter to Yunus on the occasion of Bangladesh’s National Day, stressing the importance of maintaining mutual sensitivity and cooperation. The exchange of the throwback photograph in Bangkok, while a symbolic moment, highlights the underlying challenges both countries face as they navigate their evolving diplomatic relationship.