Tarique Rahman invited to both bilateral visit, BRICS summit: Jaiswal

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been invited to India for a bilateral visit and to participate in the outreach phase of the upcoming BRICS summit as the chairperson of BIMSTEC, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday.

Responding to a reporter's question, he said, "Yesterday, our High Commissioner had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. In the meeting, both sides discussed issues of mutual interest."

Regarding the invitation to PM Tarique, he said, "We have extended an invitation for a bilateral visit, as well as for participation in the BRICS outreach session to be held in Delhi. We will inform you if there is any update on this."

Earlier on Monday, Daily Waadaa spoke to several officials in the Bangladeshi and Indian governments who indicated that Indian High Commissioner Trivedi’s ‘hurried trip’ to Delhi is likely linked to Dhaka’s response to an invitation for Rahman to attend the BRICS summit as chair of BIMSTEC.

According to the officials, the Tarique administration has so far given New Delhi no definitive commitment that the prime minister will attend the September 12-13 summit.

One highly placed source told Waadaa that Tarique Rahman is unlikely to travel to New Delhi unless India creates an “enabling environment” and takes some “trust and confidence building measures.”

Another source told Waadaa that India also needs to extend an invitation for a bilateral state visit to PM Rahman, potentially immediately before or after the BRICS summit.

“Without an invitation for a bilateral visit, even if it is an extension of the BRICS trip by a day, the prime minister is unlikely to visit Delhi,” the source said.

The 18th BRICS summit will be held in Delhi on September 12 and 13.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited PM Tarique, as the chairperson of BIMSTEC, to join the outreach of the summit.