Bangladesh

Tarique Rahman to Skip BRICS Summit in India Amid Diplomatic Tensions

10 September 2026 22:09 PM

NEWS DESK

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not attend the upcoming BRICS Summit in India, and no Bangladeshi representative is expected to participate in the summit.

The much-discussed possibility of Tarique Rahman’s visit had raised hopes in India that it could help repair strained relations between the two neighbouring countries. However, the proposed visit has now been called off amid renewed diplomatic tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi.

The BRICS summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with India serving as the host.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir confirmed on Thursday that Tarique Rahman would not attend the summit. He indicated that Dhaka was dissatisfied with the manner in which the invitation was extended.

Tarique Rahman was invited to attend the BRICS outreach session in his capacity as chair of BIMSTEC, rather than as the prime minister of Bangladesh.

“When there is a positive environment, we can go on a bilateral visit. There is no hurry here,” Humayun Kabir said at an event in Dhaka.

Although Bangladesh is not a BRICS member, India had invited Tarique Rahman to participate in the summit’s outreach session because Bangladesh currently holds the chairmanship of BIMSTEC.

The decision not to attend comes after several developments that have strained relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.

In particular, Bangladesh has objected to several decisions by the Indian government concerning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India. Dhaka was also angered by India allowing Hasina to participate virtually in a public event.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry summoned India’s diplomatic representative in Dhaka and expressed its displeasure over the matter.

India has repeatedly said it is committed to improving bilateral relations, but Dhaka has expressed concerns over what it views as contradictory actions, including providing space in India to the Awami League, whose activities have been banned in Bangladesh.

Despite Tarique Rahman’s decision to skip the BRICS summit, the Bangladesh government has indicated that a bilateral visit to India remains possible if conditions become favourable.

Humayun Kabir said there was no urgency to arrange such a visit and

BRICS Summit Tarique Rahman