No meeting with Dr Yunus on Modi's BIMSTEC schedule

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday announced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's engagements in Bangkok without any mention about a bilateral meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, reports UNB.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister Modi will visit Bangkok from April 3-4 April to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit to be held on April 4, hosted by Thailand, the current BIMSTEC Chair, and for an official visit. This will be Modi's third visit to Thailand.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin on Tuesday said Dhaka is ready to see a bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Dr Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit and is expecting a positive response from Delhi.

He said the strain that is there in the relations between Bangladesh and India could be overcome if the bilateral meeting is held between Prof Yunus and Modi.

"On our part, we are ready (for the talks). We will be waiting," Jashim said, adding that Bangladesh is giving much importance to the meeting as Dhaka believes the meeting will help take forward the relations.