India has officially invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC, to attend the Outreach Session of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi this September. However, the Bangladesh government is yet to make a final decision on whether to accept the invitation and attend the summit.
According to high-level government sources, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will make the final decision after reviewing schedule logistics and relevant political considerations.
Earlier on July 23, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obayed Islam confirmed that the diplomatic letter addressed to the Prime Minister had arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was subsequently forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Invitation Background and Diplomatic Outreach
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and New Delhi confirmed that the formal invitation was delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the High Commission of India in Dhaka on July 14. In the letter, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman—as the leader of the regional bloc BIMSTEC—to join the BRICS Outreach Session set for September 12–13 in New Delhi.
The Outreach Session of BRICS, an international platform of emerging economies, typically invites non-member partner states and leaders of key regional economic blocs.
Currently, the 11 member nations of BRICS include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.
Strategic Importance & Bilateral Significance
Diplomatic analysts emphasize that participating in this year’s BRICS summit carries substantial significance for Bangladesh:
Long-standing Membership Aspirations: Bangladesh has formally expressed interest in joining BRICS since 2023, with both China and Russia actively supporting its candidacy.
First Potential Modi-Rahman Meeting: This summit presents the first potential face-to-face bilateral meeting between newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Engagement with World Leaders: The presence of global figures, including leadership from Russia and China, offers a prime opportunity for high-level side diplomacy on the sidelines of the multilateral forum.
Bangladesh previously attended the BRICS Outreach Summits in Johannesburg, South Africa (2023) and Kazan, Russia (2024), though it skipped the 2025 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
