Yunus says B'desh not becoming like Afghanistan, calls for better relations with India

Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate and head of Bangladesh's interim government, has firmly rejected claims that Bangladesh is at risk of turning into another Afghanistan if Sheikh Hasina is not in power. In a pointed message to India, Yunus urged for a shift away from this narrative, calling it both exaggerated and harmful to bilateral relations.

Yunus emphasized that the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh are political, not communal, and accused India of amplifying these incidents. "These attacks are more political than communal. India has exaggerated them. We have not remained inactive—we are doing everything possible," Yunus said.

The attacks, which involved the destruction of Hindu temples and vandalism of properties, occurred during violent student protests following Hasina’s abrupt departure from the country on August 5. Yunus, now serving as Chief Adviser of the interim government, clarified that the violence was a result of political instability rather than sectarian conflict.

Yunus also took issue with India’s portrayal of Bangladesh as only secure under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, calling it an outdated and narrow perspective. "This narrative of portraying everyone in Bangladesh—whether BNP or others—as Islamist and likening it to Afghanistan is misguided. Bangladesh is just another neighbor, not a special case that needs Hasina to remain stable."

He called for India to adopt a more open-minded approach towards Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape. "India is captive to this narrative. It’s time to move past it and focus on strengthening ties between our two nations, which have weakened recently due to political upheaval," he stated.

Yunus expressed his commitment to fostering better relations between India and Bangladesh, emphasizing that both countries must work together to overcome challenges and improve their partnership.