India did not invite Bangladesh PM Rahman for BRICS; invite was for BIMSTEC Chair: Dhaka

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not be attending the BRICS summit as an official representative, clarified Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on September 10, 2026. India had invited Rahman in his capacity as the head of BIMSTEC, not as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, explained Kobir during a press briefing in Dhaka.

The speculation surrounding Bangladesh's representation at the BRICS summit arose after India extended an early invitation to Rahman in August 2026. Kobir dismissed these rumors, stating that the BIMSTEC Chair was the only one invited, not Rahman himself. The Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka hosted a meeting where Kobir discussed the matter, emphasizing that Rahman's upcoming visit to India would be a bilateral one, scheduled at a convenient time.

Rahman had previously been invited to India for bilateral talks immediately after taking office on February 17, 2026. In August, India invited the Country Chairs of various regional organizations, including BIMSTEC, ASEAN, the African Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and others. However, the list of participants for the BRICS summit did not include Bangladesh, and the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that representatives from ASEAN, the African Union, and the Eurasian Economic Union would be attending.

The announcement did not feature any name for Bangladesh, as Dhaka and Delhi were reportedly in consultation for Rahman's potential visit to India. The talks between the two nations reportedly broke down after deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticized the current government in Dhaka for failing to maintain law and order during a virtual press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka expressed "outrage" over the issue and called for clarification on the matter.