The Indian government clarified on Tuesday that it holds no connection or involvement in an upcoming public interaction featuring ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina scheduled for August 5 in New Delhi.

Clarifying New Delhi's stance during a news briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal affirmed that the session is being conducted entirely by an independent media organization.

"The interaction that you are referring to is being organised by a private media entity. The government has no involvement whatsoever in it, nor does it endorse any views that may be expressed at the forum," Randhir Jaiswal stated when a reporter sought his response.

According to Indian media reports, Sheikh Hasina is set to deliver her initial public appearance in India virtually through an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia (FCC South Asia) in New Delhi, coinciding with the two-year mark since she fled Bangladesh following massive student-led demonstrations.

Ahead of Sheikh Hasina's reported program, Bangladesh communicated its expectations to India on Monday, asking New Delhi to ensure that no individual—including fugitive Sheikh Hasina—is permitted to utilize Indian territory to deliver political speeches or execute activities intended to destabilize Bangladesh.

Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir conveyed this position during a meeting with newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, noting that such actions could hamper constructive advancement in bilateral relations.

During the same briefing, Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India has formally extended invitations to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to participate in the upcoming 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, alongside a separate standing invitation for a bilateral visit issued when he assumed office in February 2026.

"You would be aware that a formal invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India was extended when he assumed office in February 2026," Randhir Jaiswal noted.

He explained that a distinct invitation was conveyed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in his capacity as the current chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to attend the outreach segment of the BRICS Summit.

"The invitation has been extended as per the standard practice being followed in BRICS for the outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner," the spokesperson added.

India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, centering around trade, international cooperation, and sustainable growth.

Guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," India's chairship reflects the people-focused approach presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2025 Rio Summit.

The previous 17th BRICS Summit took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6–7, 2025, framed around the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance."

Bangladesh assumed the two-year chairmanship of BIMSTEC—a seven-nation regional body comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—in April last year, reaffirming its intent to foster regional integration, according to senior diplomatic sources.

When asked about Bangladesh's response to the summit invitation on July 29, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman told reporters, "We are reviewing it now. We will take a decision and inform you immediately."

The full BRICS bloc currently encompasses Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE, alongside partner nations including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.