India has firmly clarified that Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman received two separate invitations from New Delhi—one for a bilateral visit and another to participate in the BRICS Summit’s outreach programme in his capacity as chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The clarification came amid differences between India and Bangladesh over the nature of the invitation extended to Rahman.
India Rejects Confusion Over Tarique Rahman’s Invitations
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Tuesday explained that India had initially invited Rahman for a bilateral visit. Subsequently, another invitation was extended for the BRICS Summit, specifically linked to Bangladesh’s role as the current chair of BIMSTEC.
Jaiswal said the two invitations were distinct, making clear that the BRICS invitation did not replace or alter the separate bilateral invitation extended to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister.
The clarification came after officials in Dhaka maintained that Rahman had not been invited to the BRICS Summit in his capacity as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister. Instead, Bangladesh said the invitation was extended to the chair of BIMSTEC, a regional organisation comprising seven countries around the Bay of Bengal.
The issue gained attention after Rahman did not attend the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
Bangladesh Prioritises Bilateral Engagement With India
Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Dhaka preferred to develop its relationship with New Delhi through direct bilateral engagement rather than through a multilateral forum.
Kobir indicated that Bangladesh wanted to establish a new framework for relations with India based on mutual interests. He also said there was no urgency to finalise a date for Rahman’s proposed visit to India.
According to Bangladesh’s position, the Prime Minister’s visit would take place when both governments agree on a mutually suitable timeframe. The remarks suggest that Dhaka intends to approach the proposed visit separately from the BRICS engagement.
The development is significant because Rahman’s potential India visit would be an important diplomatic engagement between the two neighbouring countries at a time when bilateral relations are undergoing a period of adjustment.
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Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have remained sensitive following the political upheaval in Bangladesh and the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
Bangladesh has repeatedly raised the issue of Hasina’s extradition and objected to her continued political activities from India. These issues have become part of the broader diplomatic conversation between the two countries.
At the same time, Dhaka has expressed an interest in resetting relations with New Delhi and building a new relationship centred on mutual interests. Bangladesh has also characterised the relationship during Hasina’s tenure as uncomfortable, underlining its desire for a different diplomatic approach.
For India, maintaining stable relations with Bangladesh remains strategically important because of the countries’ geographic proximity, extensive economic links and shared regional interests.
BRICS Invitation Linked to BIMSTEC Chairmanship
The distinction between the two invitations is also important in understanding why the BRICS invitation became a point of disagreement.
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Bangladesh is not a BRICS member or partner country. The invitation to Rahman for the outreach session was connected to his position as the chair of BIMSTEC, rather than Bangladesh’s status within BRICS.
India’s decision to invite him in that capacity reflected the wider regional outreach associated with the BRICS Summit. The gathering brought together leaders and representatives from BRICS members, partner countries and invited participants for discussions on international cooperation and issues concerning emerging economies.
Bangladesh, however, chose not to participate through Rahman, with Dhaka stressing its preference for bilateral discussions with India.
Tarique Rahman’s India Visit Remains Open
Despite the disagreement surrounding the BRICS invitation, India’s bilateral invitation to Rahman remains a separate diplomatic channel.
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Bangladesh has indicated that the proposed visit will eventually take place if both sides agree on an appropriate schedule. This leaves the possibility of a direct India-Bangladesh engagement involving Rahman outside the framework of BRICS.
The distinction could prove important as New Delhi and Dhaka seek to manage differences while exploring areas of mutual interest.
The latest exchange therefore appears less about the cancellation of a bilateral invitation and more about clarifying the diplomatic purpose of two separate invitations. India has emphasised that Rahman was invited both for a bilateral visit and, subsequently, for the BRICS outreach session as BIMSTEC chair.
With Bangladesh signalling a desire to “reset” ties and India maintaining its invitation for bilateral engagement, attention will now turn to when Rahman’s first official visit to New Delhi will take place and whether it can help open a fresh chapter in India-Bangladesh relations.
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