Tarique Rahman, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was absent from the BRICS meeting held earlier this month in New Delhi. The Indian government has stated that Rahman received two invitations: one to attend a BRICS session as the head of the BIMSTEC regional group and another for a bilateral visit to India.
Dhaka's Reaction to the Invitations
However, in Dhaka, these invitations were perceived as a disregard, as Rahman was not invited to the main session as Prime Minister and was only acknowledged as the head of BIMSTEC. This indicates a difference in the current relations compared to the previous Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, who was invited to previous BRICS events as Prime Minister, even though Bangladesh is not a member of this group.
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Political and Diplomatic Consequences
This case is the latest example of the cold relations between the two South Asian neighbors that have emerged since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in 2024 following widespread protests and deadly crackdowns. Hasina sought refuge in India and was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity.
Bangladesh has requested India to extradite Hasina so she can face justice. Hasina has rejected this ruling, deeming it political maneuvering. Following her ousting, bilateral relations have deteriorated to their worst state in recent years. Visa services have decreased, and disputes over Hasina's presence in India and border management have escalated.
After the victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Rahman in the February elections, this trend has somewhat changed. India resumed tourist visas in June and appointed Dinesh Tiwari as its new High Commissioner. However, the continuation of bilateral relations depends on Hasina's presence in India.
Analysts believe that India needs to seriously repair its relations and should not allow Hasina's provocative statements to affect the relationship. According to Shantia Mariit D'Souza, this absence at the BRICS meeting clearly signifies a disregard and exacerbates the tense relations between the two countries.
Despite this, some believe that India and Bangladesh can still influence each other and continue bilateral cooperation.
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