Raksha Mantri cautions Yunus of Bangladesh to be careful about What he Yaps
Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri has cautioned Muhammad Yunus the Interim Chief Adviser of the illegal Bangladesh Government. Yunus installed by Islamist radicals has been warned to “watch his words,” stressing that India does not wish to see tensions escalate between the two countries. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China, Singh reiterated that New Delhi seeks friendly and stable relations with all its neighbours, including Bangladesh.
It may be noted that the legally elected PM Hasina was forced to flee Dhaka and the President of Bangladesh was misinformed that she had resigned. Thereafter an illegal Government took over headed by Yunus.
Shri Rajnath Singh underscored India’s preference for diplomacy and restraint. “We do not seek tense relations with Bangladesh, but Yunus should be cautious with his statements,” he said. He emphasised that while India is fully capable of handling any challenge, it remains committed to maintaining harmony in the region.
Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have headed Southwards following forced removal of PM Sheikh Hassina in Bangladesh earlier this year. The ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through violent protests led by radical Islamists ushered in a turbulent phase in the country’s politics.
Muhammad Yunus a Nobel Prize Winner assumed the role of interim chief adviser after Hasina was forced to leave the country, and is currently in India in what is seen as an attempt to recalibrate Dhaka’s foreign posture.
Since taking charge with support of Islamist radicals, Yunus has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of India, fuelling concerns about a shift in Dhaka’s traditional stance. His rhetoric has been described by Indian officials as provocative and unhelpful, particularly given the historic cooperation shared between the two nations across economic, security, and cultural fronts.
Recent controversy erupted when Yunus gifted a symbolic artwork to Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and a Turkish parliamentary delegation.
The piece, titled Art of Triumph, was reportedly intended to celebrate youth activism during Bangladesh’s recent student-led protests. However, according to News18, the artwork allegedly contains maps and imagery reflecting a concept of a “Greater Bangladesh” that absorbs India’s north-eastern states, including Assam.
Sources quoted by the media suggested that the depiction was not merely artistic but ideologically charged, constituting a “message” to transnational networks aligned with Dhaka’s interim regime. The document allegedly featured military-style “battle plans” and “post-victory management frameworks” envisioning the economic integration of Assam under Bangladeshi influence.
This act has sparked outrage in policy circles and drawn sharp responses from New Delhi. Officials have interpreted Yunus’s moves as deliberate provocations, divergent from long-standing bilateral traditions established during Hasina’s tenure, which prioritised coordination on issues of border security, trade, and counter-extremism.
Raksha Mantris statement represents India’s first direct caution to Yunus since the controversy surfaced. By urging restraint, Singh sought to reaffirm India’s diplomatic patience while making clear that New Delhi will not tolerate efforts undermining its territorial sovereignty or regional equilibrium.
Experts note that this episode marks a critical juncture in South Asian relations. With Bangladesh’s internal political structure still fragile, India’s calibrated approach aims to prevent further destabilisation along its eastern frontier. The Ministry of External Affairs continues to monitor the evolving situation closely, maintaining readiness for both dialogue and deterrence.
