BRICS invitation row upsets Bangladesh? Dhaka puts 101 India agreements under review

Bangladesh is reviewing 101 agreements signed with India, as the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) parliament chief whip, Nurul Islam Moni, revealed on Friday. This move follows a diplomatic dispute over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's invitation to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, which was not extended in his capacity as Bangladesh's prime minister.

Moni said that Bangladesh is examining all 101 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) due to concerns that certain agreements may have prioritized foreign vessels over domestic ones, particularly in the context of port policies at Chattogram port. The government aims to prioritize its sovereignty and domestic interests by withdrawing from agreements deemed detrimental to national welfare.

Moni also stated that Bangladesh had ruled out Tarique Rahman's attendance at the BRICS Summit, noting that he was not invited as the prime minister but as the BIMSTEC chair. The BNP chief whip added that the government was withdrawing from various "unethical agreements" to safeguard Bangladesh's national interests. Bangladesh expressed disappointment over India's decision to invite Tarique Rahman to the BRICS Summit, emphasizing that such a move would not affect the bilateral relations between the two countries.

India, which is currently hosting the 18th BRICS Summit as its chair, invited Rahman to attend in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair. Dhaka is focusing on enhancing bilateral relations with India while working on a bilateral visit when the timing is conducive.