Published : 10 Sep 2026, 08:22 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:49 AM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, but Dhaka has left the door open for a separate bilateral visit to India if the conditions are right.
No Bangladeshi representative will take part in the summit, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir told reporters in Dhaka on Thursday.
He said Bangladesh was unhappy with the way the invitation to the BRICS gathering had been extended.
“The prime minister was invited as the chairman of BIMSTEC, not as the prime minister of Bangladesh."
He nevertheless indicated that Tarique could travel to India separately if a favourable environment emerged for a bilateral visit.
His comments came after a day-long international conference titled “Protracted Rohingya Crisis: The Search for a Comprehensive Approach” at the Foreign Service Academy.
The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Sept 12-13.
Bangladesh is not a BRICS member, but India had invited Tarique, as the current chair of BIMSTEC, to attend an outreach session at the summit.
His possible participation had been the subject of speculation for several weeks, while India had earlier said it had received no confirmation from Dhaka.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said last month that the invitation to the outreach session had been made in Tarique's capacity as BIMSTEC chair, in keeping with the practice of inviting heads of regional organisations.
India Visit Still on the Table
Tarique's decision to skip the summit does not appear to rule out a bilateral visit to India.
Humaiun said on Thursday that the prime minister could still travel to New Delhi if the environment for such a visit became favourable.
That broadly echoes reporting by Indian newspaper The Hindu, which said on Thursday that Tarique was open to visiting India but wanted a clearly defined agenda and tangible outcomes before making the trip.
Citing an unnamed Bangladeshi diplomatic source, The Hindu reported that the prime minister could visit New Delhi in November or early December.
The source said Dhaka believed preparatory talks between officials of the two countries would first be needed to establish an agenda for the visit. Those discussions had yet to begin, according to the report.
Among the issues Bangladesh would like to see progress on is the Ganga Water Treaty, which is due to expire at the end of December after 30 years, The Hindu reports.
The official also identified the restoration of full-scale Indian visa services, the removal of trade restrictions introduced during Bangladesh's interim government, fuller use of land ports and broader commercial ties as possible areas for agreement.
Energy cooperation could also feature, with the official telling The Hindu that Indian assistance in tackling Bangladesh's energy shortages could serve as a confidence-building measure.
The report suggested Dhaka was seeking to separate such practical issues as trade, visas and energy from more politically sensitive disputes between the two countries.
Hasina Remains a Sticking Point
One of the most difficult issues in the relationship remains the presence in India of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have repeatedly come under strain over Hasina's political activities from India and Bangladesh's calls for her return.
The Hindu's diplomatic source said Bangladesh had taken note of India's move to prevent a fresh media event involving Hasina's Awami League supporters, describing it as a constructive signal.
The official also said that Dhaka expected India to recognise Tarique's position as Bangladesh's elected prime minister while handling Hasina's political activities.
The issue had also surfaced in Dhaka earlier this week.
Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday that India's handling of Hasina should be taken “seriously” in discussions surrounding a prime ministerial visit.
“Some are speculating about whether the government wants to bring Sheikh Hasina back or not. They say it doesn't really want to, but is trying to put pressure on India,” he said at a press conference at the Secretariat.
“We want to state one thing very clearly — as this has been noted as a condition of the honourable prime minister's visit to India, you have to take it seriously.”
Dhaka has been signalling for several weeks that it does not intend to rush Tarique's first visit to India.
Humaiun said in August that such a trip would depend on an environment of mutual trust, confidence and respect for sovereignty, as well as a “dignified invitation”.
He said there was no reason to hurry into a top-level visit unless Bangladesh's national interests were clearly defined.
Earlier this month, Humaiun again said Tarique would visit India at an “appropriate time”, with the timing to depend on mutual respect, national interests and the schedules of the two prime ministers.
India has already extended a standing invitation for a bilateral visit.
