India-Bangladesh ties face strain over former PM Hasina’s refuge in Delhi, says Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, has attributed the 'prevailing' tensions between India and Bangladesh to New Delhi's decision to offer refuge to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus, who is in New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), also said that India did not like the student protests that led to the ouster of Hasina. He also criticised fake news that labelled the student protest as an “Islamic movement".

“Also, fake news comes from the other side, making all kinds of propaganda that this is a very bad thing, and this is an Islamic movement. These are the Talibans who took over Bangladesh. They say I am a Taliban too," he said during a chat.

On August 5, 2024, Hasina fled to India as student protesters brought down her 15-year rule in Bangladesh. After she escaped, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Yunus, who has called for elections next year.

In April this year, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. PM Modi reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh.

“We have problems with India right now because they didn’t like what the students have done. They are hosting Hasina, the former prime minister, who created all these problems and killed young people. That has created a lot of tensions between India and Bangladesh," he added.