Bimstec Summit: CA Yunus meets Modi at official dinner in Bangkok

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus attended the official dinner for leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) in Bangkok today (3 April), where he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who hosted the dinner, welcomed the Bimstec leaders and exchanged pleasantries at the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel. She made a brief remark during the dinner, which was followed by a toast, reports UNB, quoting Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad.

CA Yunus arrived in Bangkok today to join the 6th Bimstec Summit. At the official dinner, he also posed for a photograph with Thai PM Shinawatra.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the chief adviser and his entourage arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, at 12pm Thailand time. Dr Yunus was received by Thai Minister in Attendance Jiraporn Sindhuprai.

Dr Yunus is scheduled to hold a number of meetings with Bimstec leaders on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit on Friday, including meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and the Thai premier, reports UNB.

Dr Khalilur Rahman, the high representative of the chief adviser, speaks with Ajit Doval, India's national security adviser, during the Bimstec official dinner in Bangkok on 3 April 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing

Before departing India for the summit, Modi said he would meet the leaders of the Bimstec countries to discuss ways for strengthening collaboration, keeping the interests of people in mind.

"I look forward to meeting the leaders of the Bimstec countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with the interests of our people in mind," Modi said before he began his visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka on Thursday.

The Yunus-Modi meeting will be the biggest India-Bangladesh diplomatic development since Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster and formation of an interim government led by Dr Yunus on 8 August last year, according to political analysts and observers.

Secretary General of Bimstec Indra Mani Pandey will also meet the chief adviser.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Minister for Social Development and Human Security Varawut Silpa-archa and Thailand's Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office Jiraporn Sindhuprai called on Dr Yunus on Thursday.

Bangladesh sees this year's Bimstec Summit, scheduled to be held on Friday, "very important" for the country as it will assume the chairmanship of the grouping for the next two years.

Photo: CA Press Wing

Dhaka also thinks the summit will provide them with an opportunity to present a "just and inclusive" Bangladesh in South and Southeast Asia, officials said this week.

Prior to this year's Bimstec Summit, Chief Adviser Yunus delivered a keynote speech titled "Bimstec Young Generation Forum: Where the Future Meets" on Thursday.

The theme of the 6th summit, which is being held three years after the 5th summit (held virtually from Colombo on 30 March 2022), is "Prosperous, Resilient, and Open Bimstec".

The summit, which aims at fostering collaboration among the member states to address the shared security and developmental challenges, will provide a new impetus to the efforts underway to realise the goal of a prosperous, resilient and open Bimstec, according to the Bimstec Secretariat.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin said the summit will further "strengthen and deepen" the relationship between Bangladesh and other Bimstec member states and will play an important role in advancing regional peace and development.

Bimstec FTA

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain led the Bangladesh delegation in the 20th Bimstec Ministerial Meeting held in Bangkok yesterday, where he stressed the tangible and result-oriented cooperation among member states, especially through effective implementation of the Bimstec Free Trade Area (FTA) enhancing intra-regional trade, reports BSS.

Foreign ministers of all seven member countries participated in the meeting a day ahead of the summit. After the meeting, Bimstec Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey called on Touhid and discussed regional cooperation and Dhaka's role as the incoming chair in Bismtec's success.

Before the ministerial meeting, the foreign ministers of Bimstec member countries signed the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA), marking a significant step towards enhancing regional connectivity.

Bangladesh's foreign adviser, in his statement, highlighted Bangladesh's commitment to ensuring collective peace, progress and prosperity through a shared Bimstec vision.

He raised the issue of 1.2 million Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh and stressed on creating a conducive atmosphere in Myanmar for the return of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) to their land with rights and security.

At the meeting, foreign ministers also finalised the draft Provisional Agenda for the 6th Bimstec Summit and the draft of the Summit Declaration.

The foreign ministers agreed to hold the 21st Bimstec Ministerial Meeting in Dhaka