Bangladesh's interim Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, has expressed frustration over recurring setbacks in the country’s relationship with India, blaming what he called “fake news” in the Indian media and lack of coordination at the highest levels.
In a candid conversation held at Chatham House in London on Wednesday, Yunus addressed multiple issues ranging from his government’s diplomatic posture to the future of democracy in Bangladesh. The 84-year-old Nobel Laureate, who took charge of the interim government in August 2024 after mass protests ousted Sheikh Hasina, spoke with think tank director Bronwen Maddox, shedding light on what he called a “fragile but essential” relationship with India.
“We want to build the best of relationship with India. It’s our neighbour, we don’t want to have any kind of basic problem with them,” Yunus said, responding to a question about an informal diplomatic request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India last year.
However, Yunus lamented that despite best intentions, tensions persist. “But somehow things go wrong every time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press. And many people say it has connections with policymakers on the top,” he claimed.
He went further, highlighting the emotional toll such misinformation causes in Bangladesh. “This is what makes Bangladesh very jittery, very, very angry. We try to get over this anger, but a whole barrage of things keeps happening in cyberspace. Suddenly they say something, do something, anger comes back,” Yunus added.
Yunus also raised concerns over Sheikh Hasina’s continued social media presence, claiming it contributes to unrest in Bangladesh. “All the anger (against Hasina) has now transferred to India because she went there,” he said, adding that he personally addressed the matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“When I had a chance to talk to Prime Minister Modi, I simply said: you want to host her, I cannot force you to abandon that policy. But please help us in making sure she doesn’t speak to Bangladeshi people the way she is doing (online). She announces on such and such date, such and such hour, she will speak and the whole (of) Bangladesh gets very angry,” Yunus stated.
According to him, PM Modi responded that Hasina’s social media activity was beyond control, a reply that Yunus found inadequate. “It’s (an) explosive situation, you can’t just walk away by saying it’s the social media,” he remarked.
The ties between India and Bangladesh, once described as a model of regional cooperation, have grown strained since the political upheaval in Dhaka. Sheikh Hasina now faces multiple legal cases in Bangladesh, following her ouster on August 5, 2024, in the wake of a massive, student-led protest movement.
Yunus concluded by reaffirming his commitment to restoring democratic order in Bangladesh. He confirmed that the interim government will release a “July Charter” next month, outlining a detailed political roadmap and that national elections will be held before mid-2026.
