Senior Correspondent, Dhaka:
Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi remains uncertain, with Dhaka yet to decide whether Prime Minister Tarique Rahman or another representative will attend the September 12–13 meeting.
India has invited Rahman to the summit in his capacity as chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The invitation is separate from an earlier bilateral invitation for the Bangladesh prime minister to visit India.
While Dhaka has not formally ruled out participation, diplomatic sources suggest that Bangladesh may ultimately decide not to send a representative. Foreign Minister and UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman also declined to comment on Tuesday when asked whether the prime minister would attend.
The uncertainty comes as Bangladesh-India relations remain under strain following former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s virtual interaction with the media from New Delhi on August 5. During the event, Hasina said she intended to return to Bangladesh in December and spoke of restoring democracy.
Dhaka strongly criticized the event, arguing that it had hurt public sentiment and could complicate efforts to improve bilateral relations. Bangladesh described Hasina as an “absconding, convicted genocider.” India, however, said its Ministry of External Affairs had no role in organizing the media interaction and did not endorse statements made there about the Bangladesh government.
Against this backdrop, Dhaka’s decision on BRICS participation could carry diplomatic significance. Attendance would provide an opportunity for engagement with India and other major emerging economies, while non-participation could underscore the current difficulties in bilateral relations.
The summit is expected to address major global challenges, including the economic consequences of the West Asia crisis.
