Diplomatic Correspondent ; Dbarta24 — India has extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the outreach segment of the upcoming 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12–13 in New Delhi.
However, Bangladesh has yet to make a final decision on whether the Prime Minister will attend the high-profile multilateral gathering.
According to high-level government sources, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to make a final determination following consultations with Foreign Minister Khalılur Rahman, who recently returned to Dhaka after official visits to the United States, the Philippines, and the Maldives.
Official Communication and Invitation Context
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and New Delhi confirmed that the formal invitation was delivered via a diplomatic note from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on July 14.
Writing in his capacity as the host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Tarique Rahman to represent Bangladesh, which currently holds the chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
In his letter, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the special significance of this year’s summit, which marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS.
Framed around the theme of building resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainable development, the summit aims to foster human-centric development under the principle of “Humanity First.”
Modi expressed confidence that the participation of Bangladesh as the BIMSTEC Chair would greatly enrich the outreach discussions, while also expressing his personal desire to meet and hold bilateral discussions with PM Tarique Rahman on the sidelines.
Confirming the development, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obayed Islam noted that the invitation letter had been received by the ministry and duly forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Addressing the media during a regular press briefing at the Secretariat, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman clarified the government’s current stance:
“Bangladesh is not a full member of BRICS; we have been invited as an observer. Therefore, the decision on whether the Prime Minister will attend rests with the highest levels of government. While such summits offer valuable opportunities for side-line discussions, initial deliberations on the matter have only just begun.”
Strategic Imperatives and Geopolitical Balancing
For Bangladesh, participating in the BRICS outreach segment carries weight beyond standard multilateral diplomacy.
Dhaka has formally expressed its intent to join the BRICS bloc—which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia—and has previously secured backing from major members like China and Russia.
Bangladesh has been a regular participant in BRICS outreach events, attending the South Africa summit in 2023 and the Russia summit in 2024, though it skipped the 2025 event held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Beyond the broader forum, the New Delhi summit presents a significant bilateral opening. Former Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain emphasized the strategic importance of attending:
“Bangladesh has been interested in BRICS membership for several years, so participating in the outreach segment makes strategic sense. More importantly, it offers the first real opportunity for a face-to-face meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the recent election. Bangladesh should leverage this multilateral platform to advance its interests.”
Navigating Complex Neighborhood Dynamics
The prospective meeting comes at a delicate juncture for Dhaka–New Delhi relations. Diplomatic observers note that public perception of bilateral ties has remained cautious following the political shifts of 2024.
Issues such as border tension, public rhetoric from Indian political figures, and broader regional realignment have led Dhaka to adopt a measured approach.
Former Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States and President of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), M. Humayun Kabir, noted that bilateral momentum had not progressed as rapidly as some had anticipated following the February elections.
“The BRICS Summit provides a timely and important opening for the two leaders to hold their first high-level engagement,” Kabir observed. “It appears India is equally keen to capitalize on this opportunity.”
As the government weighs its decision, broader geopolitical factors—including Bangladesh’s ongoing diplomatic engagement with Washington and domestic public sentiment—will likely inform whether Prime Minister Tarique Rahman makes the trip to New Delhi this September.