Bangladesh official admits ties with India witnessed ‘setback’ during Yunus-led interim regime
“Relations faced some setbacks during the interim government, but they (ties) remained important,” he told reporters at a press conference a week before the elections, the first since the Sheikh Hasina-led government was ousted by a mass protest in August 2024.
Hossain, a former career diplomat who also served as deputy high commissioner to India, expressed optimism that the next elected government could find some ways to make relations smoother.
The interim government led by Younis was formed after Hasina’s Awami League regime was ousted by a violent protest led by students on August 5, 2024, called the July Uprising. The 78-year-old leader has been living in India ever since.
A special Bangladeshi court last year sentenced Hasina to death, charging her with crimes against humanity for her brutal efforts to tame the protests, while Dhaka has repeatedly requested her extradition to face justice.
Asked whether India would continue to refuse to send him back and whether the next government would be able to restore ties with New Delhi, Hossain said: “Don’t be pessimistic.”
Bangladesh-India relations are said to have witnessed their lowest level in the last 18 months, when Dhaka’s ties with Pakistan have seen remarkable improvement through political, trade and defense relations. Hossain’s comments came just hours after youth and sports advisor Asif Nazrul thanked Islamabad for its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in protest against Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament.
“Thank you Pakistan,” Nazrul said in a Facebook post sharing Sharif’s words and expressing his gratitude.
Hossain acknowledged that bilateral progress has stalled in many areas but described the situation as “not a major crisis” but rather “a period of no forward progress”.
He said “different perceptions of national interests” between India and Bangladesh had contributed to the slowdown as both sides pursued their own priorities, which were not always in sync.
But Hossain said the interim government was advancing important negotiations, including trade talks, with the United States and other partners to ease the workload of the next elected government.
He said the interim government, which is expected to end its 18-month rule after the February 12 elections, “left no burdens unresolved” and instead highlighted many important issues to ensure continuity.
He said Bangladesh continues to actively participate in the discussions, helping reduce tariffs to 37 percent from previous levels of 25 percent to 20 percent, while for India and Pakistan they stand at 18 percent.
“Achieving such a reduction would preempt a major task for the next government,” he added.
