Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to skip the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with diplomatic sources indicating that unresolved issues surrounding former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s political activities in India are creating discomfort for Dhaka.
Rahman was invited by India to attend the multilateral BRICS gathering. However, a diplomatic source said on Thursday that the Bangladesh prime minister does not plan to travel to Delhi for the summit.
The decision comes even as Rahman is reportedly interested in visiting India at the earliest possible opportunity. According to the source, however, his government is concerned about what concrete outcomes he could take back to Bangladesh from a visit of this nature.
Sheikh Hasina Issue Remains a Major Point of Concern
The political activities of Sheikh Hasina in India are reportedly one of the key issues complicating relations between the two countries.
The diplomatic source said the Rahman government wants Hasina to be returned to Bangladesh, where she has been sentenced and accused by the authorities of being directly involved in the killing of students.
The source also indicated that Dhaka believes India’s cooperation in returning individuals accused in connection with the violence would help improve bilateral relations.
Despite these differences, the official stressed that Bangladesh remains committed to maintaining friendly ties with India.
Dhaka Seeks a Trust-Based Relationship With New Delhi
The source blamed the Awami League for contributing to the anti-India sentiment that has emerged in Bangladesh in recent years.
According to the official, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government does not share that approach and instead wants to develop a relationship with India based on greater trust and cooperation.
Rahman’s decision to miss the BRICS summit, the source emphasized, should therefore not be interpreted as an attempt to distance Bangladesh from India.
The official pointed to India’s significant contribution and sacrifices during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, describing India as an important and immediate neighbour whose relationship with Bangladesh remains strategically important.
Bilateral India Visit Could Happen Later This Year
Although Rahman may not attend the BRICS summit, he is reportedly aware that a bilateral visit to New Delhi could become necessary by November or early December.
One major reason is the Ganga Water Treaty, which needs to be renewed soon and is otherwise scheduled to expire at the end of December.
The treaty is an important component of India-Bangladesh relations, making discussions between the two governments particularly significant as the deadline approaches.
Energy Crisis Offers an Opportunity for India
Energy cooperation could also provide an avenue for rebuilding confidence between the two countries.
Bangladesh is currently facing a serious shortage in energy supplies, and the diplomatic source suggested that assistance from India in addressing the problem could send a positive signal to Dhaka.
The official described Indian support in the energy sector as a potential confidence-building measure that could help create a more constructive atmosphere in bilateral relations.
Rahman’s India Visit Will Need Careful Planning
According to the diplomatic source, any future visit by Tarique Rahman to India needs to be structured around concrete outcomes.
Rather than being viewed as a routine diplomatic engagement, the visit would need to demonstrate progress on key bilateral concerns and help restart India-Bangladesh relations on a stronger footing.
For now, Rahman’s decision to stay away from the BRICS Summit highlights the challenges facing New Delhi and Dhaka. However, the reported interest in a future bilateral visit suggests that both sides still have an interest in rebuilding ties and expanding cooperation.