The 18th summit of the BRICS bloc is scheduled to take place in the Indian capital on 12 and 13 September, with India serving as the host nation for this year’s high-level gathering. Rumours regarding the Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s potential participation had been circulating widely within diplomatic circles. Indian officials had previously noted on several occasions that they lacked definitive confirmation regarding the Prime Minister’s attendance.

Clarifying the nature of the invitation, Humayun Kabir explained that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was extended an invitation in his capacity as the current chairman of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), rather than a direct bilateral invitation as Bangladesh’s head of government. Although Bangladesh is not a member state of the BRICS grouping, host nation India had invited the Prime Minister to participate in the summit’s outreach session specifically to represent the regional organisation.

The government has ultimately decided against accepting the invitation. Kabir further confirmed that Bangladesh will not be sending any official delegation to represent the nation at the summit in New Delhi. Addressing the wider context of regional diplomacy, the state minister highlighted that the Prime Minister intends to undertake a full bilateral visit to India at a later date, once mutually favourable conditions are established between the two neighbouring nations.

The confirmation provides definitive clarity on Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagements for the upcoming summit, resolving the uncertainty that had surrounded the nation’s representation at the high-profile economic forum in New Delhi.