Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman received 2 India invites, we haven't heard back: MEA

Tarique Rahman skipped the BRICS Summit, hosted by India in New Delhi last week.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was invited to India on two occasions, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday. One invitation was for a bilateral visit and another to attend the BRICS Summit as chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), he said.

Rahman did not attend the summit hosted in New Delhi last week and has not yet visited India for the bilateral engagement.

“We had invited Prime Minister of Bangladesh on a bilateral visit, as also subsequently he was invited for the BRICS Summit as Chair of BIMSTEC. So he had received two invitations, one on the bilateral side and the other for the BRICS Summit as well,” the MEA spokesperson said.

“On the visit of the [Bangladesh] Prime Minister, we have not heard anything. As and when we have something to update you with, we'll surely come back,” Randhir Jaiswal added when asked about Rahman's proposed visit to India.

India-Bangladesh ties have remained sensitive since former PM Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh and took shelter in India in August 2024. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition, including requests in 2024 and 2026, but India has not complied with the demands.

What Bangladesh said about BRICS invitation

Jaiswal's clarification came after Bangladesh state minister for foreign affairs Humaiun Kobir said Rahman was not invited to the BRICS Summit in his capacity as PM. The invitation was extended only to the BIMSTEC chair, he said.