BRICS Summit: Uncertainty Persists Over Bangladesh PM’s Delhi Visit, Minister Clarifies

As India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, uncertainty continues over whether Bangladesh’s interim government chief Tarique Rahman will travel to New Delhi as part of the summit’s outreach to other regional groupings.

India has invited leaders of the African Union, ASEAN, GCC and BIMSTEC to take part in outreach sessions aimed at engaging the Global South. Bangladesh currently holds the chairship of BIMSTEC the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. As per convention, it is the head of government of the BIMSTEC chair nation who receives the invitation to the BRICS outreach event.

However, clarity is still lacking on whether Rahman himself will travel to India. Earlier this week, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there was no update to share on whether the Bangladesh PM would attend the BRICS summit, or whether an alternate representative would attend in his place.

What the minister said about the Bangladeshi PM’s visit

India-Bangladesh relations have cooled over the past couple of years following the removal of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister. Hasina is currently in India, and Dhaka has sought her extradition to face trial in Bangladesh.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir indicated that Rahman had not been invited to the BRICS summit, clarifying that the invitation was extended to the BIMSTEC Chair rather than to him directly. This is being viewed as a matter of technical distinction, since Bangladesh is not a BRICS member and was invited strictly in its capacity as BIMSTEC chair.

According to a report in the Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star, Kobir said, “How shall we go? Has anyone from the Bangladesh government been invited?”

“Our prime minister was not invited. Who told you that our Prime Minister was invited? The BIMSTEC Chair was invited. Then why are you asking this question?” Kobir told reporters.

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The minister further noted that Rahman’s first visit to India could not take the form of a multilateral trip, adding that the government was working towards organising a bilateral visit at a more suitable time.

The BRICS Summit in New Delhi is scheduled to take place between September 11 and September 13, alongside a range of associated events.