India is growing increasingly uneasy with what some are calling “megaphone diplomacy” by Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus. His recent public comments, made through media interviews, have raised eyebrows in New Delhi and sparked concerns about the future of India-Bangladesh relations, which have been in a delicate state since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power.
Yunus, who is leading Bangladesh's interim government, recently urged India to prevent Hasina from making any political statements while she remains in India. In an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI), Yunus said that Hasina, once viewed as India’s close ally, should refrain from commenting on Bangladesh’s political situation while staying in Delhi. These remarks have not gone down well with Indian officials, who see Yunus’ approach of airing bilateral grievances through the media as counterproductive.
India’s foreign ministry has not officially commented on Yunus’ statements, but sources within the government suggest that officials are upset by his tactics. “India is closely observing the situation in Bangladesh, but it is not comfortable with these kinds of public comments,” an Indian official said on condition of anonymity. The official added that India prefers to address sensitive issues in private discussions, rather than through the press.
Former Indian diplomats have also criticized Yunus’ media outreach. Veena Sikri, India’s former high commissioner to Bangladesh, expressed surprise at what she called Yunus’ “megaphone diplomacy.” She emphasized that delicate matters between the two countries should be handled behind closed doors and questioned why Yunus described the bilateral relationship as being “at a low” without elaborating.
Yunus, however, defended his comments, arguing that he has the right to express his views when asked by the media. He has also reiterated the need for both nations to improve their relationship, which he claims has deteriorated in recent months. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry backed Yunus, dismissing the criticism as unwarranted. “Leaders from India also speak to the media on key issues,” said Touhid Hossain, an adviser to Bangladesh’s foreign ministry.
The tension between the two countries comes at a time of uncertainty in Bangladesh’s domestic politics. Since Hasina’s fall from power, calls have grown within Bangladesh for her return to face trial over allegations of government-led violence during her tenure. While Yunus has publicly pushed for Hasina to remain silent during her stay in India, the future of her presence in the country remains unresolved. Indian officials are reportedly open to allowing her to remain until another country agrees to host her, but the question of her eventual extradition to Bangladesh is still hanging in the balance.
Yunus’ public statements and India’s growing discomfort with his diplomatic style have added to the complexity of an already fragile situation. With no high-level ministerial meetings between the two countries since Hasina's ousting, some fear that relations between India and Bangladesh could worsen if private diplomacy is not restored soon.
The situation is further complicated by Bangladesh’s domestic tensions, including rising violence against religious minorities and a resurgence of Islamist extremism. India, which has long viewed Bangladesh as a key security partner in the region, is particularly alarmed by reports of increasing attacks on Hindus and vandalism of Sufi shrines in Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh moves forward under interim leadership, India’s response to Yunus’ media-driven diplomacy could shape the future of the two countries' relationship. Many in New Delhi are hoping for a return to the quieter, more behind-the-scenes negotiations that have historically characterized India-Bangladesh ties.
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