State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir asserted on Thursday that Bangladesh lacks any avenue to dispatch a governmental delegate to the upcoming BRICS Summit, explaining that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman did not receive a direct invitation to the conference, which was instead extended to the acting Chair of BIMSTEC.

“How shall we go? Has anyone from the Bangladesh government been invited? Our Prime Minister was not invited. Who told you that our Prime Minister was invited? The BIMSTEC Chair was invited. Then why are you asking this question?” he stated to media personnel, firmly dismissing the prospect of the Prime Minister's participation at the gathering.

Addressing inquiries at the Foreign Service Academy, Humaiun Kobir emphasized that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s inaugural journey to India cannot properly take the form of a multilateral trip.

He noted that the administration is actively pursuing preparations for a dedicated bilateral journey to India when conditions prove favorable, highlighting that Dhaka places paramount importance on bilateral engagement and substantive dialogue with its neighbor.

Humaiun Kobir stated that such bilateral interactions will occur strictly when the diplomatic climate is appropriate and mutual respect remains fully upheld, adding, “There is no need to rush things.”

Turning to queries regarding the renegotiation of the Ganges Water Treaty, the State Minister remarked, “Wherever our national interest is involved, we will act with importance and competence. We will prioritise the interests and well-being of our country.”

In April 2025, Bangladesh assumed the leadership of the regional coalition known as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) for a two-year tenure, underscoring its dedication to fostering regional collaboration and growth.

The BIMSTEC bloc comprises seven participating nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Conversely, New Delhi confirmed on August 4 that an invitation had been dispatched to Prime Minister Tarique to participate in the BRICS Summit in his capacity as the head of BIMSTEC, alongside a separate bilateral invitation that has remained active since February of this year.

“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,” stated Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a recent press briefing in New Delhi.

Regarding the BRICS Summit itself, Jaiswal explained that India separately reached out to the Bangladeshi premier in his role as the current President of BIMSTEC to join the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled in New Delhi.

“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 MEA spokesperson elaborated.

Member nations of the bloc alongside United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres are slated to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit taking place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

The United Nations mission in India verified his attendance via an announcement posted on its official Facebook page on Wednesday.

Acting as the BRICS Chair for 2026, India is organizing the 18th summit at the Bharat Mandapam venue in New Delhi.

The conference unites delegates representing member states, partner nations, and specialized outreach invitees.

India's leadership of the bloc is structured around the core motto: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” embodying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a citizen-focused paradigm rooted in the principle of “Humanity First.”

Beyond these focal points, participating leaders will confer on expanding intra-bloc collaboration concerning shared strategic objectives while exchanging viewpoints on international and regional matters of common concern.

Throughout India's presidency this year, upwards of 350 specialized sessions and high-level dialogues have been conducted across more than 25 cities nationwide to reinforce the foundational pillars of the partnership: political-security cooperation, economic-financial integration, and cultural-people exchanges, according to the host nation.

Through these diplomatic exchanges alongside commercial and public networking initiatives, India's leadership term has advanced the group's agenda through concrete, development-driven outcomes.

As a founding member of BRICS, India has previously directed the presidency on three prior occasions—in 2012, 2016, and 2021—before assuming its fourth term on January 1, 2026.

The year 2026 also represents a notable milestone as the bloc marks its twentieth anniversary since inception.