Bangladesh officials said the chances of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visiting India for the upcoming BRICS summit are very slim.
The potential visit serves as a litmus test for diplomatic relations between the two neighbors. A failure to attend could signal deep-seated friction over political sensitivities and the current bilateral environment.
The 18th [2] BRICS summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13 [1]. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended an invitation to Rahman, the Bangladeshi government has not yet reached a final decision.
Humayun Kabir, the foreign affairs adviser to the prime minister, said Bangladesh will show a “positive attitude” towards participating in the summit. However, other top aides said the likelihood of the trip is very slim [1].
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said the invitation is under review [3]. The delay in confirmation stems from a lack of consensus and the need for a more conducive bilateral environment between the two nations.
Political sensitivities are playing a significant role in the decision. Specifically, the presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi has created a diplomatic hurdle for the current administration in Dhaka.
Officials said that greater consensus with India is required before a high-level visit can be finalized. The current atmosphere suggests that while diplomatic channels remain open, the political cost of a visit to New Delhi remains high at this time.
“The invitation is under review.”
The uncertainty surrounding Prime Minister Rahman's attendance highlights the fragility of current Bangladesh-India ties. The presence of Sheikh Hasina in India acts as a primary diplomatic friction point, suggesting that New Delhi's hosting of the former leader outweighs the strategic incentive of the BRICS summit for the current Bangladeshi government.
