India did not invite Bangladesh for BRICS: Dhaka minister on PM Rahman's absence

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said Dhaka had not received an invitation for Rahman to attend the summit as Bangladesh's prime minister. Dhaka said that Rahman's first visit to India should be a bilateral engagement when the "environment is positive."

In Short

• Dhaka said India invited Rahman only as BIMSTEC chair, not prime minister
• Kabir said no Bangladesh government invitation leaves no scope for visit
• The summit in New Delhi is scheduled for September 12 and 13

Bangladesh has ruled out Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s participation in the BRICS Summit in New Delhi this weekend, with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir making it clear that India’s invitation was extended to Rahman in his capacity as chair of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and not as Bangladesh’s prime minister.

Kabir questioned how Rahman could attend the summit as Bangladesh’s prime minister when no separate invitation had been extended to the Bangladesh government.

“How can we go? Have they invited anyone from the Bangladesh government? They have simply invited the BIMSTEC chair. Therefore, there is no scope for a visit now,” Kabir said on Thursday.

The BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. India has invited Rahman to the summit as chair of the BIMSTEC, the seven-nation regional grouping currently chaired by Bangladesh.

Dhaka, however, has drawn a distinction between an invitation extended to the BIMSTEC chair and one extended to the Bangladesh prime minister for participation in the BRICS Summit.

Kabir said Dhaka had not received an invitation for Rahman to attend the summit as Bangladesh’s prime minister, which could otherwise have provided an opportunity for his first visit to India since taking office.

Kabir also indicated that it would rather have Rahman’s first India visit take place as a dedicated bilateral engagement, rather than as part of his role as head of BIMSTEC at a multilateral summit.

He also said that the timing would depend on the broader environment between the two countries. “We are working on a bilateral visit when the environment will be positive,” Kabir said.

The developments come as India and Bangladesh seek to navigate a new phase in their relationship following the political changes in Dhaka and Rahman’s assumption of office.

- Ends