Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman invited to 18th BRICS Summit as BIMSTEC Chair
Synopsis
India has invited Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi — not just as a neighbour, but as the sitting BIMSTEC chair. With a bilateral visit invitation also pending since February 2026 and water-treaty talks on the table, the diplomatic temperature between New Delhi and Dhaka is quietly rising ahead of a potentially landmark meeting.
Key Takeaways
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman has been invited to the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September 2026 as BIMSTEC chair.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the invitation follows standard BRICS practice for heads of regional groupings.
A separate bilateral visit invitation was extended to Rahman when he assumed office in February 2026 .
BIMSTEC represents 1.7 billion people — 22% of the global population — with a combined GDP of US$ 5 trillion .
India's High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi described recent talks in Dhaka as positive, expressing hope for an early visit by Rahman .
Discussions on the Ganga Water Treaty will proceed through the Joint Rivers Commission and bilateral technical mechanisms covering 54 shared rivers .
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been invited to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September 2026, in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Tuesday, 4 August. The invitation follows standard BRICS practice of including heads of regional groupings in outreach sessions.
India's Official Position
Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that two separate invitations have been extended to Rahman — one for a bilateral visit to India issued when he assumed office in February 2026, and another specifically for the BRICS outreach session in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair.
'You would be aware that a formal invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to visit India was extended when he assumed office in February 2026. As far as the BRICS Summit is concerned, India has separately extended an invitation to him in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit, which will be held in New Delhi. The invitation has been extended as per the standard practice followed in BRICS for outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner,' Jaiswal said.
What BIMSTEC Represents
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a seven-member regional grouping comprising nations in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal. Its members include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka from South Asia, and Myanmar and Thailand from South-East Asia. The bloc collectively represents 1.7 billion people — roughly 22% of the global population — with a combined GDP of US$ 5 trillion.
India-Bangladesh Bilateral Ties
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, last week expressed confidence that bilateral ties would advance constructively once Prime Minister Rahman visits India. Speaking after separate meetings with Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, Trivedi described the discussions as positive.
'I am looking forward to everything positively. We had a great meeting filled with immense positivity,' Trivedi was quoted as saying by Bangladeshi media outlet UNB. On the question of when Rahman would visit India, Trivedi noted that the decision rests with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, while reaffirming New Delhi's readiness to receive him.
Ganga Water Treaty Discussions
At the same MEA briefing, spokesperson Jaiswal addressed a question on the Ganga Water Treaty, stating that any discussions on the matter would proceed through established bilateral mechanisms — namely the Joint Rivers Commission and associated technical-level platforms. He noted that India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, and that these existing frameworks would govern all water-sharing negotiations.
With the BRICS Summit approaching and bilateral diplomatic channels active, the nature and timing of Prime Minister Rahman's visit to India is expected to become clearer in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
One multilateral — reflects New Delhi's careful choreography with Dhaka. By framing Rahman's BRICS invite through his BIMSTEC hat rather than as a direct bilateral gesture, India preserves diplomatic optionality while keeping the door open. The real signal will come when, and if, Rahman accepts. Bangladesh's domestic political calculus and its evolving posture on water-sharing and trade will shape whether this outreach translates into a substantive reset or remains a courteous holding pattern.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman been invited to the BRICS Summit?
Rahman has been invited to the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC, not as a BRICS member. India follows standard BRICS practice of inviting heads of regional groupings to such sessions, and other regional group leaders have received similar invitations.
When is the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled?
The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September 2026. Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman has been invited specifically to its outreach session as the sitting BIMSTEC chair.
What is BIMSTEC and why does it matter?
BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a seven-nation regional grouping linking South Asia and South-East Asia. Its members — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand — collectively represent 1.7 billion people and a combined GDP of US$ 5 trillion, making it a significant platform for regional cooperation.
What is the status of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations?
Relations are on a cautious but positive trajectory. India extended a bilateral visit invitation to PM Rahman when he took office in February 2026. India's High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi described recent diplomatic meetings in Dhaka as highly positive, expressing hope that Rahman's visit to India would take place in the near future.
How will the Ganga Water Treaty issue be handled?
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that discussions on the Ganga Water Treaty will be conducted through existing bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Rivers Commission and technical-level platforms. India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, and all water-related negotiations will proceed within this established framework.
