Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Bangladesh Says Rahman Not Invited for BRICS Summit
Bangladesh says Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was not invited to the BRICS meeting as Bangladesh’s leader.
It says he was invited only because he chairs BIMSTEC, a regional group.
Bangladesh therefore says it will not officially attend the summit.
India announced several leaders and ministers who will represent other regional groups.
The announcement did not name anyone from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh also says Rahman’s first trip to India should be a separate meeting between the two countries.
Earlier discussions about that trip stopped after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticised Bangladesh’s government.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry expressed anger about her remarks.
Separately, Bangladesh is reviewing 101 agreements with India while relations are strained.
Bangladesh said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was invited as BIMSTEC chair, not as Bangladesh’s prime minister.
Dhaka said it would have no official representation at the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
India announced representatives for ASEAN, the African Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, CELAC and the GCC, but no Bangladeshi representative.
Bangladesh said Rahman’s first India visit should be bilateral and occur at a conducive time after earlier talks stalled.
Bangladesh is reviewing 101 agreements with India as bilateral relations come under renewed strain.
- Who
- Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladeshi officials, India, and representatives of regional organisations.
- What
- Bangladesh said Rahman was not invited to the BRICS Summit as Bangladesh’s prime minister and said it would have no official representation; it is also reviewing 101 agreements with India.
- When
- The dispute followed India’s September 10 announcement about summit representatives; Rahman took office on February 17, 2026.
- Where
- The statements were made in Dhaka, while the summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi.
- Why
- Bangladesh said Rahman was invited only in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair, while broader tensions increased after Sheikh Hasina criticised Bangladesh’s government.
Bangladesh’s position
India’s summit arrangements
Nature of the invitation
Bangladesh’s position
Bangladesh said Tarique Rahman was not invited in his capacity as prime minister and that the invitation was for the BIMSTEC chair.
India’s summit arrangements
India’s reported arrangement was to invite or include representatives of regional organisations, with Rahman associated with BIMSTEC rather than representing Bangladesh nationally.
Bangladesh’s summit participation
Bangladesh’s position
Bangladesh said it would not send an official representative because no member of its government had been invited.
India’s summit arrangements
India announced representatives for several regional organisations, but the announcement did not name anyone from Bangladesh.
Rahman’s first India visit
Bangladesh’s position
Bangladesh said the visit could not be multilateral and should instead be a bilateral trip at a conducive time.
India’s summit arrangements
India had invited Rahman for a bilateral visit soon after he took office, but discussions later stalled after Sheikh Hasina criticised Bangladesh’s government.
- Summit
- India is hosting the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
- Bangladesh’s position
- Dhaka said Tarique Rahman was not invited as Bangladesh’s prime minister.
- Invitation capacity
- Bangladesh said Rahman was invited as chair of BIMSTEC.
- Official participation
- Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said the country would have no official representation at the summit.
- Regional representatives
- India named representatives for ASEAN, the African Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, CELAC and the GCC.
- Potential India visit
- Bangladesh said Rahman’s first visit to India should be bilateral and arranged at a conducive time.
- Agreements under review
- Bangladesh is reviewing 101 agreements signed with India.
