Published : 16 Sep 2026, 11:55 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:55 PM
India has said that despite extending two separate invitations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for an official visit, it has not heard back from Dhaka.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, made the comments on Tuesday.
He was questioned by reporters over Tarique's absence from the BRICS summit, despite receiving an invitation in his capacity as chairman of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
The 18th BRICS summit was held in New Delhi on Sept 12 and 13, attended by heads of government or representatives from 28 countries.
In response to a query from news agency ANI, Jaiswal said: "We had invited the prime minister of Bangladesh for a bilateral visit. Subsequently, he was also invited to attend the BRICS summit as the head of BIMSTEC.
“He received two invitations -- one over bilateral relations and the other for the BRICS summit."
Asked about the proposed visit to India by Tarique, Jaiswal said: "We have not heard anything new regarding the (Bangladeshi) prime minister's visit.
“Whenever we have any update in this regard, we will certainly inform everyone."
Earlier, on Sept 10, when asked by reporters outside the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Dhaka was unsatisfied with the manner in which the invitation to the BRICS summit was extended.
He noted, however, that a bilateral visit by the head of government to India remained a possibility.
"[He] was invited to BRICS as the chairman of BIMSTEC; he was not invited in his capacity as prime minister," Kobir said.
"He will undertake a bilateral visit to India once favourable conditions are established."
According to a report by the Hindustan Times, relations between the two neighbours have remained sensitive since August 2024, when ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India amid a mass uprising.
Although Dhaka has repeatedly called for Hasina's extradition, India has yet to accede to those demands.
Following the BNP's victory in the February elections and its subsequent assumption of power, Narendra Modi's government extended an invitation to Tarique for a bilateral visit.
However, Dhaka expressed strong indignation after Hasina delivered an address at a press conference in Delhi on Aug 5 this year.
Amid ongoing discussions over Tarique's prospective visit to India, Dhaka set two preconditions for Delhi, stressing the need to foster a "favourable diplomatic environment”.
Dhaka said that before any decision over the visit is finalised, India must expedite the extradition process of former Hasina and hand over the suspects involved in the murder of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Osman Hadi.
Hasina has been residing in India since being ousted from power on Aug 5, 2024.
Following a verdict by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentencing her to death for crimes against humanity, Bangladesh formally requested New Delhi to extradite her.
India, however, maintains that it is reviewing Bangladesh's request through "due legal and diplomatic processes”.
