BRICS Summit Shock : Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman Won’t Visit India, Invitation Row Sparks Fresh Diplomatic Buzz

New Delhi : A fresh diplomatic controversy has erupted just ahead of the BRICS Summit 2026 in India, with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman set to skip the high-profile gathering in New Delhi, according to Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir. The development has triggered intense discussion over the nature of Bangladesh’s invitation to the summit and comes at a time when India-Bangladesh relations remain under close scrutiny.

Speaking on Thursday, Kabir said Tarique Rahman had not been invited separately in his capacity as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, but that Bangladesh had been invited in its capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC, meaning the country could send an official representative to the BRICS gathering.

While a government representative may attend the summit on behalf of Bangladesh, Kabir indicated that the Prime Minister himself is unlikely to travel to India. The clarification has added a fresh twist to the diplomatic narrative surrounding the summit, particularly because India is currently holding the BRICS chairmanship and has invited countries and regional organisations as part of its priorities for the 2026 summit.

BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, comprises India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, with cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, security and economic development forming a key part of its agenda. The latest development is also significant because Tarique Rahman’s proposed India visit had reportedly been discussed earlier, including a planned visit on August 22 that was subsequently postponed.

Against this backdrop, his decision not to attend the BRICS Summit has naturally fuelled speculation about the broader state of India-Bangladesh diplomatic engagement, although Dhaka has maintained that a separate bilateral visit is being prepared.

The situation is further complicated by the continuing differences between the two countries over the issue of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, and Dhaka’s position regarding her possible extradition. However, the Bangladeshi government has sought to distinguish the BRICS development from any future bilateral engagement, with State Minister Humayun Kabir saying preparations are underway for a separate bilateral visit by Tarique Rahman to India.

The last time India hosted a major BRICS outreach involving BIMSTEC leaders was during the 2016 BRICS summit in Goa, when leaders from all BIMSTEC member states were invited. The contrast with the current situation has therefore added another layer to the discussion.

With the BRICS Summit bringing together global leaders and international attention, all eyes are now on how Bangladesh chooses to participate, whether a senior government representative will attend in place of the Prime Minister, and whether Tarique Rahman’s eventual bilateral visit to India can open a new chapter in relations between the two neighbouring countries.