Prime Minister Modi recently concluded a much-anticipated and successful BIMSTEC summit in Thailand. A video going viral on the internet shows PM Modi seated as Bangladesh’s caretaker leader, Muhammad Yunus, enters the meeting hall. It is being claimed that Muhammad Yunus deliberately kept the Indian Prime Minister waiting, suggesting that Modi was desperate to meet him.
Defence Research Forum claimed, ‘At BIMSTEC in Bangkok, Bangladesh interim chief Prof Md Yunus kept Indian PM Narendra Modi waiting for their bilateral talks. A subtle jab at New Delhi, Regional dynamics just got spicier!’
Ami Bangladesh wrote, ‘ A long-awaited meeting between #Modi and #DrYunus took place, with Modi and his team initially seen waiting for the arrival of @ChiefAdviserGoB. The irony here is that the Tea Boy has to wait until he’s asked to serve.’
Bangla Vibe asserted, ‘Modi was seen waiting for @ChiefAdviserGoB Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Got the message? The era of Bangladesh’s submissive foreign policy is over.‘
Also Read: Old Video of JeM Terrorist Praising Indian Army Before Encounter Shared as Recent
We began our fact-checking process by investigating the matter. Upon searching, we found a video uploaded on April 4, 2025, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official YouTube channel. In the video, PM Modi can be seen greeting Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government.
Additionally, a report published by the Bangladeshi media outlet Dhaka Tribune on April 2, 2025, stated, “There is a high possibility that Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
‘We have officially requested the meeting. We have reasonable grounds to remain hopeful. There is a high possibility that the meeting will take place,’ High Representative to the Chief Adviser, Khalilur Rahman, told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy.”
The article further mentioned that this would be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since the formation of the interim government led by Dr. Yunus on August 8 last year. The Chief Adviser was scheduled to depart for Bangkok on April 3 to attend the summit. Earlier, Bangladesh had approached India through diplomatic channels to arrange this meeting.
Moreover, a report by The Hindu dated March 23, 2025, quoted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as informing a parliamentary panel that, “Bangladesh’s request for a meeting between its interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit is under consideration.”
Following the meeting, PM Modi shared images from the event and wrote, “Met Mr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh. India remains committed to a constructive and people-centric relationship with Bangladesh. I reiterated India’s support for peace, stability, inclusivity and democracy in Bangladesh. Discussed measures to prevent illegal border crossings and expressed our serious concern for the safety and well-being of Hindus and other minorities.”
An Indian Express article published on April 5, 2025, offered more details on the meeting, describing it as a sharp 40-minute discussion on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit. During the conversation, PM Modi raised concerns about the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Dr. Yunus, on his part, brought up Dhaka’s request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, who reportedly fled to India after her ouster.
According to official statements, PM Modi cautioned Yunus against making provocative statements. This came in response to Yunus’s recent remarks during his visit to Beijing, where he referred to North-East India as “landlocked” and called Bangladesh the “only guardian of the ocean” for the region—remarks that were not well received in Delhi.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated, “The Prime Minister underlined India’s concerns regarding the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed the expectation that the Government of Bangladesh would ensure their protection by thoroughly investigating reported atrocities.”
Hence, the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, officially requested a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit—not the other way around. During the meeting, PM Modi firmly highlighted India’s concerns over minority rights in Bangladesh and cautioned Dr. Yunus against using rhetoric that could harm bilateral ties.
| Claim | PM Modi waited for Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during their meeting at the BIMSTEC Summit. |
| Claimed by | Social media users |
| Fact Check | In reality, the meeting was officially requested by the Bangladesh interim government. PM Modi did not wait for Yunus; instead, he firmly raised concerns about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh and cautioned Yunus against making anti-India remarks. |
Also Read: Gujarat’s Bet Dwarka Was Never Claimed as Waqf Property?
This website uses cookies.