Is Yunus personally working to improve ties with India? Bangladesh’s finance adviser makes BIG statement, says ‘If anyone from outside is…’

The finance advisor also stated that the current political situation would not disrupt trade or economic cooperation. He confirmed that Bangladesh had decided to import 50,000 metric tonnes of rice from India.

Bangladesh’s interim government signalled on Tuesday that it wants to improve its relationship with India, especially on economic matters. Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is making efforts to calm tensions with New Delhi and is trying to strengthen trade ties by keeping economics separate from political statements.

Speaking to reporters after a government purchase committee meeting, Ahmed said Yunus is actively working to improve diplomatic relations. While Yunus has not spoken directly to Indian officials, he has been in touch with people connected to the issue, Ahmed added.

The finance adviser stressed that Bangladesh’s trade decisions are based on cost, not politics. “If rice from India is cheaper than rice from Vietnam or other countries, then buying from India is the practical choice,” he said.

Ahmed, who is an economist, said he does not expect relations between the two countries to worsen further. He also confirmed that Bangladesh has approved the purchase of 50,000 tonnes of rice from India, calling it a step towards maintaining good relations.

He explained that importing rice from India makes financial sense, as buying the same quantity from Vietnam would cost Bangladesh about BDT 10 more per kilogram.

Ahmed’s remarks came at a time when foreign policy experts say relations between Dhaka and New Delhi are at their worst since Bangladesh gained independence in 1971. Analysts point to repeated summoning of diplomats by both sides, along with protests outside Bangladeshi and Indian missions in both capitals and other cities.

However, Ahmed downplayed these concerns, saying the situation was not as serious as it appeared. “From the outside, it may seem like a lot is going on,” he said, adding that some public statements have made things look more tense than they actually are.

When asked whether certain individuals or outside groups were making anti-India remarks, Ahmed said Bangladesh does not want hostility with India. “If anyone from outside is trying to create trouble, it is not good for either country,” he said.

“The current interim government does not want any kind of bitter relationship with a big neighbour like India,” he said. “Our main objective is to further strengthen bilateral relations while ensuring economic stability.”

He also stressed that such incidents do not reflect the feelings of the Bangladeshi nation as a whole. Instead, he said, they are creating unnecessary complications for Bangladesh and its relations with India.

These were the first words aimed at reconciliation even as protests, cancellation of visa services and protests threatened to plunge the ties between India and Bangladesh to a new low.