Join WhatsApp Channel
Bangladesh is currently undecided on whether Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi next month, said the country’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman.
Khalilur further urged the local media to distinguish between two separate Indian invitations extended to Bangladesh – one for a bilateral visit by Rahman and another for Dhaka, in its capacity as chair of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), to attend the BRICS outreach session.
“First of all, I am not an astrologer. So, I cannot predict on which exact day it will happen. Secondly, the BIMSTEC invitation was not extended to the prime minister personally. It was addressed to the chairperson of BIMSTEC,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His remarks followed the courtesy visit paid by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi to Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to the FM, Dhaka had received two invitations from New Delhi – one from PM Modi for a bilateral visit and another for the BIMSTEC chairperson to attend the BRICS Summit.
During his meeting with the Bangladesh premier, Trivedi conveyed PM Modi’s greetings and India’s intention to collaborate with both the Bangladesh government, as well as its people in a “positive, constructive and forward-looking manner”. Additionally, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral ties through greater people-centric cooperation.
Trivedi also met the country’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, with discussions focusing on bilateral relations and areas of common interest, including security cooperation.
India confirmed on August 4 that Tarique Rahman had been invited to attend the BRICS Summit in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC. The separate invitation for a bilateral visit has been in place since February, when the BNP leader had assumed the premier’s office in February.
India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, with discussions expected to focus on global cooperation, trade and sustainable development.
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, a formal invitation for PM Rahman had been extended by India to visit the country when he assumed office in February.
“As far as the BRICS Summit is concerned,” Jaiswal said, India had separately invited the Bangladeshi premier, as chair of BIMSTEC, to attend the summit’s outreach session.
“The invitation has been extended as per the standard practice being followed in BRICS for the outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner,” Jaiswal remarked.
BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Bangladesh assumed the group’s chairmanship in April last year for a two-year term, with Dhaka reiterating its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development.
Related posts:
Why Bangladesh’s Pivot Toward Türkiye Could Redefine South Asia’s Geopolitical Landscape
Thaw in Relationship: Tarique Meets Trivedi, RAW Chief Flies Down to Dhaka
Bangladesh’s Balancing Act: Delhi or Beijing?
Whispers Before the Reset: Intelligence Diplomacy and the Fragile Recalibration of Bangladesh–India Relations
