‘Bangladesh seeks strong ties with India, but misinformation derails it’: Muhammad Yunus blames Indian media

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has voiced concerns over the country's strained ties with India, attributing recurring tensions to what he described as misinformation in Indian media. Speaking at a discussion with Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox in London on Wednesday, Yunus emphasized that Bangladesh has always aimed to maintain friendly relations with its neighbor, but repeated issues have derailed progress.

“We want to build the best of relationships with India. It’s our neighbour—we don’t want any fundamental problems with them,” Yunus said. “But somehow, things always go wrong because of fake news coming from the Indian press, which many believe is connected to top policymakers.”

He said this misinformation fuels anger and frustration in Bangladesh, particularly due to a constant stream of negative narratives online. “We try to rise above the anger, but the barrage of stories on cyberspace makes it hard to ignore,” he added.

Indian authorities have yet to respond to Yunus’ comments.

During the same session, Yunus addressed the controversial case involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said Bangladesh is pursuing her extradition from India following her indictment by the International Crimes Tribunal.

“There is a legal case now. Notices have been sent to Hasina for the crimes she is accused of committing. We want the extradition process to be legal and proper,” Yunus said. He noted that Bangladesh will follow international protocols, including working with Interpol, to seek her return.

Yunus also shared details of a previous conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he expressed concern over Hasina making political statements from Indian soil.

“I told Prime Minister Modi, you may choose to host her—it's your decision—but please ensure she doesn’t address the people of Bangladesh from India,” Yunus said. “She announces a time and date for these speeches, and it angers the entire country.”

According to Yunus, Prime Minister Modi responded by saying that social media cannot be controlled.

The remarks mark a sharp escalation in diplomatic rhetoric from the Bangladeshi side, especially amid sensitive political and cross-border developments.