Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. -Collage Photo

DHAKA, March 25, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh has made preparations for a potential meeting between Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, scheduled for April 3.

"From our side, we are fully ready for the meeting. Now, we await a positive response from India,” Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin said at a curtain-raiser media briefing today, where he outlined the Chief Adviser’s forthcoming visits to China and Thailand.

The foreign secretary noted that any high-level meeting with a neighboring country holds significant importance for Dhaka.

“Considering the current context of our bilateral relations with India, we view this meeting as crucial. We hope that if it takes place, it could pave the way for overcoming the existing stalemate in our relations," he said.

Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed a parliamentary panel in New Delhi that India was considering Dhaka’s proposal for a meeting between the Bangladesh Chief Adviser and the Indian premier.

The 6th BIMSTEC Summit is slated to take place in Bangkok from April 2 to 4.

Chief Adviser and Nobel Laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok on April 3 to attend the summit, with the main session involving heads of government set for April 4, said the foreign secretary. 

The Chief Adviser will return to Bangladesh after the conclusion of the summit on April 4.

The foreign secretary mentioned that ahead of the summit, on April 3, 2025, the Chief Adviser will deliver a keynote speech at the “BIMSTEC Young Generation Forum: Where the Future Meets.”

He highlighted that the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, under this year’s theme "PRO BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC," holds special significance for Bangladesh as Dhaka will assume the chairmanship of the regional forum for the next two years.

“It goes without saying that this 6th BIMSTEC Summit marks a new chapter for Bangladesh in the regional arena, providing an opportunity to present a just and inclusive Bangladesh in South and Southeast Asia,” Jashim said.

The foreign secretary expressed his belief that this summit would further strengthen and deepen the ties between Bangladesh and other BIMSTEC member states, playing a crucial role in promoting regional peace and development.

During the summit, he said, heads of state and government would exchange views on various aspects of BIMSTEC cooperation, providing guidance on enhancing socio-economic development, sustainability, and peace in the region.

The summit will review progress in regional cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade expansion, the establishment of the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, the implementation of the transport connectivity master plan, energy cooperation, security and defense, poverty alleviation, human resource development, agriculture, culture, tourism, disaster preparedness, and pandemic response.

The heads of state and government will issue a joint declaration by consensus at the summit.

The foreign secretary will attend the 25th BIMSTEC Senior Officials' Meeting, which will take place in Bangkok on April 2, while Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain will participate in the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on April 3.