Tarique Rahman to Skip BRICS Summit in Delhi Amid India-Bangladesh Tensions

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to Skip BRICS Summit in Delhi Amid Tensions With India

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to remain absent from the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, scheduled for September 12–13, 2026. Dhaka has clarified that Rahman was not invited to the summit in his capacity as Bangladesh’s prime minister. Instead, the invitation was extended in connection with his role as chairman of BIMSTEC. 

The development comes against the backdrop of strained India-Bangladesh relations, particularly over former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India since leaving Bangladesh in 2024. Dhaka has sought her extradition, while India’s continued hosting of Hasina has remained a sensitive issue between the two countries. 

The BRICS Summit is being hosted by India on September 12–13, with leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping expected in New Delhi. The summit is taking place amid major geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Iran conflict and divisions within the expanded bloc. 

Rahman’s absence therefore carries diplomatic significance, although it should not be portrayed as a confirmed personal boycott specifically over Hasina’s presence in India. Some commentary has interpreted the episode as reflecting Dhaka’s increasingly cautious approach toward New Delhi, while experts have stressed that India-Bangladesh ties will require dialogue and mutual accommodation rather than public confrontation.