The outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with the U.S. President Donald Trump in White House on February 13 may have its impact on the interim government of Bangladesh headed by Dr. Mohammad Yunus, who is in power since August 8, 2024 in the wake of the ouster of Sheikh Hasina government only three days before on August 5. The US government always has remained as a big player in influencing the course of developments in Bangladesh. In 2025 also, that remains the same, though the process varies from time to time.
In the joint press conference, when President Trump was asked about Bangladesh, he mentioned that the Indian Prime Minister had been looking into it and he had been doing it for long. Trump looked at Modi for a reaction, but he avoided the Bangladesh issue and dealt with the Indian stand on the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump’s comment was not a detailed one, it was a bit confusing as he said ‘hundred years’ while the issue was being considered. Bangladesh was born in 1971, just 53 years ago, so where was the question of one hundred years?
However, Narendra Modi got clearance from the U.S. President in going ahead with his plan for improving relations with Bangladesh on his own terms. This was a big relief for the Indian government, as the foreign secretary Vikram Misri explained later that the remarks of Trump on Bangladesh should help India to work for improving relations with its neighbour. It was not clear whether the issue of the Yunus regime demand for extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India was discussed by Modi with Trump, but signals were there that the Indian side would have enough flexibility to work out its policy to deal with the vexed issues, that are at the root of the present deterioration of relations between the two neighbours.
The Bangladesh government was also keenly monitoring the Trump-Modi talks in the White House. Minutes after the summit, Dr. Yunus, who was in Dubai attending a conference, talked to Elon Musk and discussed about the talks. Though the exact response of Musk is not known, Dr. Yunus offered the Starlink owner the right to set up services of Starlink in Bangladesh. Already Elon Musk has installed Starlink services in Bhutan and there were talks about Bangladesh earlier. Knowing that Musk is a hard businessman, the chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh tried to impress Musk with his business offer while talking issues political.
It can be mentioned that the emissaries of Dr. Mohammad Yunus earlier tried to seek a meeting with Trump after his victory in November presidential elections, but they were not successful. Dr. Yunus, according to Trump, is a friend of Hillary Clinton. Trump had used abusive words against him earlier. Dr. Yunus camp in Bangladesh was worried about the Trump-Modi talks. Since Trump could not be approached, Dr. Yunus started cultivating Elon Musk, whom he has known from earlier. Thursday’s telephonic conversations were a part of that process to keep the second in command of the Trump regime in good humour.
Bangladesh is worried at another development. Indian Prime Minister had his first meeting with the newly-appointed Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard during his visit to Washington. Gabbard is a well-known American Hindu and a close friend of the Prime Minister. She is in charge of the CIA operations also. In the press conference, President Trump was asked about the role of ‘Deep State’ in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August last year. Trump fully denied that in the conference because he could not officially confirm any involvement of U.S. agencies like the CIA in the regime change in any other country. But the fact is that, soon after taking over, some officials allegedly belonging to the Deep State, have been shunted out. Tulsi Gabbard is now further monitoring the operations of CIA to reshape it along the lines of Trump’s thinking.
It is apparent now that the Bangladesh interim government may redraw its strategy in geopolitical terms, taking into account the interim U.S. support to India in the present battle of attrition between the two neighbours. Already, the Bangladesh interim regime has expanded its relations with Pakistan and China, but the government cannot think of functioning annoying US administration under Trump. The regime can very well find out a way like offering US base near Chittagong in the territorial waters of the country, which was the bone of contention between the Sheikh Hasina government and the Pentagon. If US wants it now as a part of any future deal with Bangladesh, that can be one of the options of the Bangladesh government in its efforts to delink India from the Trump administration’s priorities vis-a-vis Bangladesh. After all, there are no permanent friends and enemies, there are only permanent interests. No one knows it better than the hardened businessman Donald Trump.
The next option for Bangladesh is to cultivate further the relationship with Pakistan and China. But Pakistan may not take the final plunge as the present Pakistan regime may be unhappy with Trump-Modi’s joint statement, especially the part concerning terrorism. However, the present government or any other government in Pakistan cannot take an overt position against the U.S., with which Pakistan is tied up in so many areas. China may not also be interested in joining any such axis, if proposed, as China’s main priority is now to reach a deal with Trump on a give and take basis. Trump admits that only China (and Russia) have the power to talk to him on equal footing. He is ready. China is happy to expand its influence in business, mainly infra projects in Bangladesh, rather than openly intervening in the politics of the country.
Under such circumstances, the best option for Bangladesh is to reopen the door of communications with India by not insisting on its demand for extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India as the immediate issue. If Bangladesh goes ahead with the remaining issues like speeding up the existing collaborative projects and also starting discussions on new areas as proposed in earlier years, the bilateral relations can get a boost, thereby reducing the unprecedented level of tensions between the two countries. The interim government can go ahead with its plan for holding general elections by the end of the year, with the participation of all political parties, including the Awami League members against whom there are no criminal charges.
For the Yunus regime, any new initiative to placate India in the wake of Trump-Modi talks on Bangladesh has become difficult, as the supporters of the new government, especially the students, are not ready on any compromise with India on the issue of extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India. India is not in a mood to agree to that at the moment. Prime Minister Modi must have mentioned the Indian view to the U.S. President, explaining the reasons. So can the Yunus regime show the guts to go ahead with India for discussions, sidetracking the demand for Hasina’s extradition which is now an emotive issue with the anti-Hasina combination? Following Modi’s talks with Trump, will USA put pressure on Dr. Yunus to agree to talks with India without any precondition on the extradition issue?
That is the million-dollar question. The immediate future of the interim government is at stake here. The students’ body has already given a notice to the Yunus government that there has been too much delay in pursuing the extradition issue effectively. The Yunus government officially is supposed a send another reminder in the sort of a warning to Delhi this week. The constituents of the interim regime have to sort out this delicate issue among themselves and come to some decision. On it, depends the next stage of India-Bangladesh relations. (IPA Service)
Why Did The Prime Minister Lose His Cool When Asked A Question About Adani? 