Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, has stated that while his country has consistently aimed for strong bilateral relations with India, the efforts are often disrupted—primarily due to misinformation from Indian media.
Speaking at an event in London with Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox, Yunus said, “We want to build the best of relationship with India. It’s our neighbour… but somehow things go wrong every time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press.”
Yunus accused the Indian press of spreading cyberspace disinformation, allegedly linked to top-level policymakers, which he said causes frustration and anger in Bangladesh. He remarked that despite attempts to stay calm, “the whole barrage of things keeps happening in cyberspace.” Indian authorities have not responded to Yunus’ remarks as of yet.
In the same interaction, Yunus addressed the extradition request for ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stating that Bangladesh wants the process to be legal and proper. According to him, Hasina has been indicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, which has begun trial proceedings and issued notices for alleged crimes.
He mentioned that the government would follow proper channels, including Interpol, to pursue the extradition. Yunus emphasized, “We want it to be very legal, very proper.”
Additionally, Yunus revealed he had spoken to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to stop Sheikh Hasina from making political statements from Indian soil, as her announcements reportedly stir tension within Bangladesh. However, according to Yunus, PM Modi declined, stating that social media cannot be controlled.
The statements come at a time of delicate diplomatic dynamics, especially as Bangladesh navigates its internal political crisis while dealing with its powerful neighbour.
