India has officially invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the outreach session of the upcoming 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in his capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India had also previously extended an invitation to Rahman for a dedicated bilateral visit after he assumed the top office in February.Who Is Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman and What Is the Background?Tarique Rahman took office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in February following a period of major political transitions in Dhaka. Since assuming leadership, efforts have been underway between New Delhi and Dhaka to navigate evolving diplomatic dynamics and foster regional stability. The recent statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlights New Delhi's intention to engage constructive dialogue with the head of government in Bangladesh.What Is the Purpose of the BRICS Invitation?The invitation extended to Prime Minister Rahman is specifically for the outreach segment of the 18th BRICS Summit. According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, inviting leaders of major regional organizations to outreach sessions is a standard established practice within the BRICS grouping. Since Bangladesh currently holds the chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Prime Minister Rahman has been invited to represent the regional body alongside other invited global and regional leaders.When and Where Will the Summit Take Place?The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under India’s chairmanship. Top world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, are expected to gather in the Indian capital. The high-level conference will focus on addressing urgent global economic challenges, international trade, regional security, and the ongoing geopolitical friction in West Asia.Why Is the Separate Bilateral Invitation Significant?In addition to the BRICS outreach gathering, India had extended a formal invitation for a bilateral visit to Prime Minister Rahman shortly after he assumed office. Highlighting this dual-track diplomatic engagement underscores India’s "Neighborhood First" policy. A dedicated bilateral visit will allow both nations to discuss key bilateral priorities, including border management, trade concessions, water-sharing frameworks, energy cooperation, and connectivity initiatives across the Bay of Bengal.What Is the Wider Global Role of BRICS and BIMSTEC?BRICS has expanded substantially to include 11 member nations—such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Indonesia—representing nearly half of the world's population, 40 percent of global economic output, and over a quarter of global trade. Meanwhile, BIMSTEC connects South and Southeast Asian nations surrounding the Bay of Bengal. Bringing together the leadership of BIMSTEC and BRICS provides a valuable platform for developing economies to address mutual goals in sustainable development, economic resilience, and multilateral growth.also read : Drone Strikes Kill 10 Across Russia and Ukraine
