Bangladesh has decided not to take up India’s invitation to attend the Brics Summit this weekend as the current chair of the regional grouping Bimstec, reflecting the current downturn in relations between New Delhi and Dhaka.
The Indian side has extended invitations to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for both a bilateral visit and to attend the Brics Summit as the chair of Bimstec but Dhaka has not conveyed its formal acceptance of both.
“How shall we go? Has anyone from the Bangladesh government been invited? Our PM was not invited. He further contended that Rahman’s first visit to India cannot be a multilateral trip. Our prime minister was not invited. The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Chair was invited,” Kobir was quoted as saying by Bangladeshi news outlet The Daily Star.
The Bangladesh government has sought to link Rahman’s visit to India to its demand for the extradition of former premier Sheikh Hasina, who has lived in self-exile in India since her administration was ousted during student-led protests in August 2024. Earlier reporting noted: Kobir questioned how Rahman could attend the September 12-13 summit when, according to Dhaka’s interpretation, no invitation had been issued to him in his capacity as Bangladesh’s head of government.
Bangladesh’s minister of state for foreign affairs Humaiun Kobir claimed in Dhaka on Thursday that Rahman was not “properly invited” to the summit. Who told you that our PM was invited?” he told reporters. “We are placing greater emphasis on bilateral visits and discussions,” he said. When the environment is favourable and “mutual respect” is maintained, bilateral visits will happen, he said. Dhaka has also said that preparations for Rahman’s visit to India were impacted by a virtual news conference by Hasina from Indian soil last month. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Rahman was not personally invited as Bangladesh’s prime minister and that the invitation was instead extended to the current chair of BIMSTEC. Who told you that our Prime Minister was invited?
Earlier reporting noted: ‘How shall we go?’: Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to skip BRICS Summit as Dhaka questions India invite Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is unlikely to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with his government drawing a sharp distinction over India’s invitation. Earlier reporting noted: “How shall we go?
