Bangladesh PM Likely to Skip BRICS Summit Amid Rising Tensions

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, is reportedly not expected to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled for September in New Delhi. This development follows rising tensions between Bangladesh and India, particularly after Sheikh Hasina's first public address in two years last week.

According to Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo, sources have indicated that Rahman's attendance at the summit, taking place on September 12 and 13, has become unlikely. The report emerges shortly after the first courtesy meeting between India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, and Rahman.

Rahman, who took office earlier this year, had previously visited China shortly after assuming his role. He also travelled to Malaysia, with China being the second country he visited as Prime Minister. In his June visit to China, he met with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

Historically, Bangladeshi leaders have performed diplomatic balancing acts, making official visits to key international partners such as India, China, or Saudi Arabia. Rahman appears to be continuing this tradition, having chosen Malaysia as his inaugural stop, signalling an aim for a neutral position between the powers.

Amid strained relations, India invited Rahman to attend the BRICS summit’s outreach session, a multilateral forum that offers a platform for discussions among member states. Although Bangladesh is not a BRICS member, it has expressed interest in joining and is currently chairing BIMSTEC, a regional organisation.

In recent discussions, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman mentioned that officials addressed several bilateral concerns during Trivedi’s visit, including the sensitive issue of Hasina’s extradition and the return of suspects involved in past political violence.

Tensions escalated following Hasina's virtual press conference on August 5, where she addressed the media from India. During this address, Hasina, who was ousted from power during the 2024 protests, reiterated plans to return to Bangladesh in December, coinciding with the 1971 Liberation War anniversary.

The political landscape in Bangladesh remains volatile, with Rahman's government demanding the extradition of Hasina. Additionally, there have been warnings from Dhaka that if India continues to facilitate Hasina's political activities from its territory, it could jeopardise friendly relations.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed expressed concerns over Hasina's potential return, cautioning that her presence could complicate bilateral ties. The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry even described the August 5 event as an affront to national sovereignty, alleging that it damaged diplomatic relations and insulted victims of the 2024 protests.

Despite reassurances from India that Hasina’s media interaction was independently organised, the live nature of the event raised critical eyebrows in Dhaka. In the wake of these developments, the likelihood of Rahman's attendance at the upcoming BRICS summit seems increasingly remote, as reported by Prothom Alo.

The BRICS summit represents a crucial opportunity for Rahman, not only for bilateral discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also for engagements with other leaders such as President Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China.

India’s invitation to Tarique Rahman aims to further diplomatic relations strained during the tenure of the prior administration led by Muhammad Yunus after Hasina’s removal. However, the recent events have complicated these outreach efforts, rendering Rahman’s anticipated participation at the summit uncertain.