The Bangladesh government has not yet officially responded to India’s invitation for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the Brics Summit scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi. This uncertainty comes amid recent strains in the relationship between the two countries.
According to sources close to the situation, Indian envoy Dinesh Trivedi reiterated the invitation during a meeting with Rahman in Dhaka on August 10. However, as the summit approaches, Bangladesh has yet to confirm whether Rahman will attend.
Alongside Rahman, India has also invited leaders from several other countries, including Bahrain, Burundi, the Philippines, and Uruguay, to join the outreach session of the summit. Additionally, there has been no update from Bangladesh regarding a separate invitation for Rahman to make a bilateral visit to India, which was offered by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Rahman’s swearing-in in February.
Prior to Trivedi’s meeting with Rahman, reports indicated a strong possibility that the Bangladeshi Prime Minister might not attend the summit due to escalating tensions in their bilateral ties, particularly after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a virtual news conference from New Delhi on August 5.
During the meeting, the Bangladeshi delegation urged India to expedite the extradition of Hasina, who has been living in India since fleeing in August 2024. The Indian side mentioned that they are reviewing the extradition request which was submitted in late 2024 according to standard procedures.
Experts suggest that the Brics Summit may not offer the best opportunity for meaningful discussions between the two Prime Ministers, given the extensive schedule of meetings with other leaders. It seems a dedicated bilateral visit from Bangladesh could facilitate more in-depth talks on crucial issues between the two nations.
Alongside Hasina’s situation, Dhaka has raised concerns about incidents, including the alleged killings of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian border security. There are also ongoing discussions about undocumented migrants and the need to renew the Ganga Waters Treaty, which is set to expire soon.
