London, June 13: Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said his government wants strong ties with India but alleged that misinformation from Indian media and political interference have repeatedly strained bilateral relations.
Speaking at an event hosted by Chatham House in London, Yunus addressed a range of issues, including relations with New Delhi and efforts to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted last year amid widespread protests.
“We want the best of relationships with India. It’s our neighbour, and we don’t want any basic problems,” Yunus said. “But somehow, things go wrong every time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press… and many people say it has connections with policymakers on the top.”
He added that such narratives generate public anger in Bangladesh and impede efforts to stabilise diplomatic engagement. “We try to get over this anger, but a whole barrage of things keeps happening in cyberspace,” he said.
Asked about the status of an informal diplomatic note reportedly sent to India seeking Hasina’s extradition, Yunus said the process will remain “legal and proper.” Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year following a massive student-led uprising and now faces multiple legal cases in the country.
“All the anger against Hasina has now transferred to India because she went there,” Yunus claimed. He said he raised concerns with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Hasina’s continued social media broadcasts aimed at Bangladeshis, but was told that such activities could not be controlled.
“It’s an explosive situation,” Yunus said, warning that her messages continue to inflame tensions at home. The 84-year-old Nobel laureate, who assumed charge of an interim government in August 2024, has pledged that national elections will be held by the first half of 2026. When asked if he would join an elected government, Yunus said, “No way.”
During his UK visit, which began Tuesday, Yunus faced protests from UK-based supporters of Hasina’s Awami League. He is expected to meet King Charles III and senior British government officials later this week.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have cooled since Hasina’s removal, with Dhaka’s new leadership seeking to reset ties while managing domestic unrest and the transition back to democracy.
