India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, in his capacity as the current chairman of BIMSTEC, to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September.
New Delhi has also confirmed that the previously extended invitation for a bilateral visit to India, issued after Tariq Rahman assumed office as Bangladesh’s prime minister, remains valid.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal disclosed the information during a regular press briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday (August 4).
Jaiswal said that shortly after Tariq Rahman took charge as Bangladesh’s prime minister in February 2026, India had formally invited him for a bilateral visit. “That invitation remains open,” he said.
Regarding Bangladesh’s participation in the BRICS Summit, the spokesperson said Prime Minister Tariq Rahman had been separately invited to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit as the BIMSTEC chair.
He explained that the invitation was extended in line with established practices for participation in the BRICS outreach segment.
According to Jaiswal, leaders of various regional organizations are generally invited to BRICS outreach sessions. Following that tradition, the BIMSTEC chair, like the heads of other regional groupings, has been invited to participate.
During the briefing, the spokesperson also responded to questions regarding Bangladesh’s political developments.
Asked whether the Indian government had any involvement in the participation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was removed from power, at an event held in New Delhi on August 5, Jaiswal said the Indian government had no connection with the programme.
He clarified that the event was organized by a private media organization and that any views or statements expressed there did not represent the approval or endorsement of the Indian government.
Source: Regular press briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs, India.