Dhaka terms Rajnath Singh's remarks on Yunus ‘Incorrect and Undiplomatic'
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly criticised Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks regarding Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, calling them “incorrect,” “unhelpful,” and “inconsistent with diplomatic etiquette.”
In a statement issued on Sunday (November 9), Foreign Ministry spokesperson S.M. Mahbubul Alam told the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) that Dhaka expects mutual respect and restraint from its neighbours when commenting on Bangladesh’s internal matters.
“We consider that Mr. Singh’s comments are incorrect and not respectful of propriety and diplomatic nicety,” Alam said, stressing that Bangladesh remains committed to maintaining a “mutually beneficial relationship with India based on sovereign equality, non-interference, and mutual respect.”
Indian media earlier quoted Rajnath Singh as saying that while New Delhi seeks friendly relations with Dhaka, Muhammad Yunus should exercise caution in his public statements, a comment that drew disapproval in Dhaka.
Relations between the two South Asian neighbours have faced turbulence in recent months following the political transition in Bangladesh last year, which saw former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flee to India amid widespread anti-government demonstrations.
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka said the government found the tone of Singh’s comments “unnecessary at a delicate moment” when both countries were attempting to restore normal bilateral engagement through official and back-channel communications.
Foreign policy analysts noted that the latest exchange reflects the growing strain in Dhaka-New Delhi ties, particularly as Bangladesh under Yunus’s interim leadership seeks to rebalance foreign relations by strengthening cooperation with China, Japan, and regional partners in ASEAN.
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