Bangladesh interim government’s finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has taken steps to ease strained ties with New Delhi while his administration was working to develop economic relations with India by separating economic interests from "political rhetoric." “The Chief Adviser is working to improve diplomatic relations with India, and he himself has also been speaking to various stakeholders on the issue,” he told reporters after a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase at his office. Asked if Mr. Yunus directly spoke to India, Mr. Ahmed said the chief adviser "has not" but he did speak to those associated with the matter. If importing rice from India is cheaper than sourcing it from Vietnam or elsewhere, then it makes economic sense to buy the staple from India," he said. "From the outside, it may sound like many things are happening...However, there are some statements that are difficult to shut out," Mr. Ahmed said.

Source: The Hindu December 24, 2025 21:09 UTC