India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled in New Delhi on September 12-13. The summit aims to focus on global cooperation, trade, and sustainable development. Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam confirmed receiving the invitation and forwarding it to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Despite not being a member or observer of the 11-member bloc, Bangladesh has been invited as a special guest by India. This invitation signifies the ongoing efforts of both countries to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance regional cooperation. The theme of India’s BRICS chairship is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.”
The current BRICS members include Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The gesture of inviting Bangladesh as a special guest aligns with the shared goal of fostering stronger ties and regional collaboration. India’s emphasis on a people-centric and humanity-first approach was articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit.
India’s decision to assign Union Cabinet Minister status to its High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, underscores the significance attached to relations with Dhaka. This move, as a personal measure to Trivedi, reflects India’s commitment to enhancing diplomatic ties with Bangladesh. The issuance of tourist visas to Bangladeshi citizens has also resumed after a two-year suspension, signaling a positive step towards promoting people-to-people exchanges.
