Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh's interim government, firmly dismissed the idea that the country would turn into another Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina's leadership. In an interview with PTI, Yunus urged India to abandon this narrative and instead focus on improving bilateral relations.

Yunus argued that recent attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh were "more political than communal" and criticized India's portrayal of the incidents. He emphasized that the violence, which included vandalism and the destruction of Hindu temples, occurred during student-led unrest following Hasina's departure from the country on August 5.

"The attacks are political, not communal," Yunus said, adding that India was amplifying the situation. "We haven't claimed we are powerless; we have said we are actively addressing the issue."

Appointed Chief Adviser after Sheikh Hasina's ouster, the Nobel laureate also downplayed concerns over minority safety, describing the incidents as exaggerated fallout from political turmoil rather than religious strife. He urged India to move beyond the narrative that suggests Bangladesh is only secure under Hasina's leadership.

"India needs to move past this narrative that portrays everyone here as Islamist and Bangladesh as at risk of becoming another Afghanistan," Yunus said. "Bangladesh is just another neighbor, and it is time for India to see it that way."

Yunus expressed a desire to strengthen ties with India, stressing the need for cooperation to improve strained relations between the two countries. "We must work together to rebuild this relationship, which is currently at a low point," he added.

The military-backed caretaker government also communicated to India that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should remain silent until Bangladesh officially requests her extradition.

"If India wishes to keep her until Bangladesh wants her back, the condition is that she must remain silent," Yunus stated.

These remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, with India voicing concerns over the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope that normalcy would soon return to violence-hit Bangladesh and emphasized that 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of minorities in the neighboring country.