Bangladesh PM was invited for Brics meet and bilateral visit: Govt

New Delhi – The Government of India reiterated on Tuesday that it has formally invited Bangladesh’s newly sworn‑in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for both a bilateral visit and participation in the forthcoming BRICS summit, where he will sit as the chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi‑Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The invitation was conveyed in a letter dated July 14, signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that Rahman’s presence would "greatly enrich the deliberations" of the summit.

The letter followed Rahman’s oath‑taking as Bangladesh’s prime minister, after which Modi extended an invitation for a bilateral engagement. However, Dhaka later withdrew from scheduling the visit, citing the absence of a concrete commitment from India on the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that the government had indeed invited the Bangladeshi prime minister on two separate occasions – first for the bilateral talks and subsequently for the BRICS summit in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair.

The BRICS summit this year marks the 20th anniversary of the bloc’s formal establishment, underscoring its strategic significance for India’s regional outreach. The dual invitation reflects India’s intent to deepen diplomatic and economic ties with Bangladesh, while the pending extradition issue highlights lingering sensitivities that could affect the pace of bilateral cooperation.