Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's proposed visit to India for the BRICS Summit next month remains uncertain, with Dhaka saying the trip is unlikely unless New Delhi creates an atmosphere based on mutual trust and extends what it described as a dignified invitation. Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir said there was no reason for Dhaka to rush into a high-level visit without clearly defined national interests. The comments came amid renewed uncertainty over Rahman's possible visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13. Relations between India and Bangladesh have faced fresh strains, particularly over Dhaka's demand for the extradition of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was removed from power before leaving for India.
Kabir said Bangladesh would not pursue a top-level visit simply for the sake of maintaining diplomatic appearances. Speaking to the state-run BSS news agency in an interview conducted on August 17 and published Thursday, he said there was "no justification for rushing into a top-level visit" if doing so meant going beyond Bangladesh's national interest. He said the possibility of Rahman travelling to India would remain "slim" unless an appropriate environment was created through consensus on specific bilateral issues. According to Kabir, Dhaka would also expect a "dignified invitation" before deciding on the prime minister's participation. He added that Bangladesh could take a positive view of attending the BRICS summit if the bilateral atmosphere improved and was based on mutual trust and agreement.
The comments indicate that Bangladesh is linking Rahman's potential participation in the summit to the broader state of India-Bangladesh relations. While the BRICS meeting provides an opportunity for leaders from member countries and partner states to engage diplomatically, Dhaka's position suggests that bilateral concerns could influence whether Rahman makes the trip to New Delhi. Relations between the neighbouring countries have become more complicated following political changes in Bangladesh and Hasina's departure from the country. Dhaka has sought her extradition from India, while New Delhi has so far not agreed to the demand. The issue has become one of the sensitive points in the relationship between the two countries.
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India, meanwhile, has indicated that it wants direct engagement between the two prime ministers. Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed that the two leaders needed to meet. He also said Modi wanted Rahman's proposed visit to India to be a memorable one and assured that the Bangladeshi leader would receive an honourable welcome. Trivedi made the remarks at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission for leading Bangladeshi business leaders and a visiting delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry. His comments appeared aimed at signalling New Delhi's willingness to engage with Rahman despite the recent tensions between the two countries.
The contrasting emphasis from the two sides highlights the diplomatic balancing act surrounding the proposed visit. While India has publicly stressed the importance of a meeting between Modi and Rahman, Bangladesh is seeking assurances on the broader bilateral environment before committing to the trip. Dhaka's focus on mutual trust and a dignified invitation indicates that the manner and substance of the engagement are important considerations. A meeting between the two leaders at the BRICS summit could provide an opportunity to address several outstanding issues and reduce tensions.
However, Bangladesh's latest position suggests that such an encounter cannot be assumed simply because both leaders are expected to be associated with the summit. For now, Rahman's participation remains undecided. Dhaka has made clear that national interests and the broader bilateral relationship will determine whether the prime minister travels to New Delhi. Unless the two sides can create the "appropriate environment" sought by Bangladesh, the possibility of Rahman's India visit for the September summit is likely to remain uncertain.
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