BRICS Summit 2026: Bangladesh is unlikely to send a representative to the BRICS Summit to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, diplomatic sources said as reported by news outlets.
India has invited
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the summit in his capacity as chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
The invitation is separate from an earlier bilateral invitation extended to the Bangladesh prime minister to visit India.
However, diplomatic sources indicated that Dhaka may ultimately decide not to send a representative to the high-profile gathering as Dhaka has yet to officially confirm whether Rahman will attend the summit.
Earlier this week on Tuesday, UN General Assembly President and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman declined to comment when asked whether Rahman would attend the BRICS Summit.
The uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation comes amid strained ties between New Delhi and Dhaka.
Relations came under renewed pressure after former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina virtually addressed the media from New Delhi on August 5. Hasina said she was determined to return to Bangladesh in December and work towards restoring democracy.
The Bangladesh government reacted strongly to the media interaction, saying it had hurt the sentiments of its people and could adversely affect efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Dhaka also described Hasina as an “absconding, convicted genocider”.
Ministry of External Affairs however, said on August 7 that it had no role in the media event involving Hasina and did not endorse any remarks made at the forum about the Bangladesh government.
BRICS Summit 2026
India is the BRICS Chair for 2026. It is a founding member of BRICS and has previously held the chairship in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The country assumed its fourth BRICS chairship on January 1, coinciding with the grouping completing 20 years since its establishment.
The 18th BRICS Summit will bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees.
The meeting is expected to deliberate extensively on a number of pressing global challenges, including the economic consequences of the West Asia crisis.
The theme of India’s BRICS chairship is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
(With inputs from agencies)
