India’s Ministry of External Affairs has stated that Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman received two separate invitations to visit India, encompassing both a bilateral trip and an invitation to the BRICS Summit as the current chair of Bimstec.
Speaking at the ministry’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the dual invitations. “We had invited the prime minister of Bangladesh for a bilateral visit. Subsequently, he was invited for the BRICS Summit as chair of Bimstec. So, he had received two invitations,” Jaiswal said.
Earlier reports from the Times of India noted that Prime Minister Rahman was invited to the BRICS Summit’s outreach session in his capacity as the current chair of Bimstec. The summit took place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, bringing together leaders from member nations, partner countries, and specially invited delegations.
The clarification from New Delhi follows remarks made last week by Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir. Kobir had asserted that the head of government was not invited in a national capacity, stating that the communication was directed solely to the regional bloc leadership.
“We did not receive an invitation for our prime minister. The invitation was extended to the Bimstec chair,” Kobir had previously stated.
Why it matters
This clarification highlights the diplomatic dynamics and formal communications between New Delhi and Dhaka regarding high-level state visits and regional summit participation.