Yunus-Modi meeting will pave the way for a long-anticipated 'win-win' situation

Illustration: TBS

No matter which government comes into power in Bangladesh, it must engage with India.  

This meeting between Prof Yunus and Narendra Modi is an extremely positive development for both Bangladesh and India. It should have taken place much earlier — I have stated this before, but at the time, my concerns were not heeded. The reality remains that a nation cannot change its neighbours; Bangladesh needs India, just as India needs Bangladesh.  

I firmly believe that the outcome of this meeting will be both significant and constructive. There is a great deal of misinformation and propaganda about Bangladesh in India. However, following this meeting, such negative narratives will likely diminish. The same applies to Bangladesh, where unwarranted anti-India rhetoric persists. This meeting has the potential to reduce such sentiments and foster greater transparency between the two nations.  

It is crucial that we possess critical knowledge about India, but this should not translate into baseless negativity.  

I am confident that this meeting will pave the way for a long-anticipated 'win-win' situation of cooperation between Bangladesh and India. Even if this single meeting does not bring immediate transformative results, it serves as a critical starting point for positive change.  

Historically, even during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union frequently engaged in diplomatic discussions. If such adversaries could hold dialogues, why should Bangladesh and India not do the same?  

The 'Trump Tariff' incident reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation in trade. At present, we rely heavily on Western nations for exports and commerce, yet we lack robust economic ties with SAARC member states. This is an area that requires urgent attention.  

I believe that a significant portion of Indian policymakers have come to recognise that India's diplomatic strategy towards its neighbouring countries has been ineffective. The policy of supporting a single party in Bangladesh for 15 years has proven to be a failure, and they now acknowledge this. As a result, I expect that they will take the necessary steps to rectify their approach.

Altaf Parvez is a researcher of south and southeast asian history and politics.

TBS' Anonno Afroz spoke to Altaf Parvez over the phone.