Tarique Rahman not attending BRICS Summit: State Minister

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not travel to India for the BRICS Summit. Although invited to the outreach session scheduled for 12–13 September in New Delhi, Bangladesh will send no representative.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs - 1 Humaion Kabir confirmed the decision on Thursday while speaking to journalists after delivering the keynote address at an international seminar on the Rohingya crisis held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. 

He added that a visit by the Prime Minister to India remains possible if a favourable environment for bilateral relations emerges.

India is hosting this year’s BRICS Summit. Bangladesh is not a BRICS member. The invitation extended to the Prime Minister was issued in his capacity as BIMSTEC Chair, not as head of the Bangladeshi government. That invitation had prompted discussion of a possible visit to India. The government ultimately decided not to accept it.

Humaion Kobir clarified that the Prime Minister is not participating on the basis of the BIMSTEC Chair invitation. At the same time, he did not rule out a future bilateral visit, stating that such a trip could take place once conditions become conducive.

Diplomatic sources indicate that both internal and external discussions considered whether the BIMSTEC invitation might open the door to a bilateral engagement amid unresolved issues and recent tensions in Bangladesh-India relations. 

The decision was taken that the Prime Minister would not attend the summit. Dhaka, however, continues to seek progress in bilateral ties and believes a high-level visit could facilitate discussion of outstanding matters if the political environment improves.

Dhaka presses for political solution to Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh has reiterated the need for political initiatives to achieve a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis. State Minister Humaion Kobir stressed that repatriation must be safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable. Simply moving people across the border into Myanmar does not constitute genuine repatriation; conditions guaranteeing their safety, rights and dignity must first be established in Rakhine State. Without such an environment, sustainable return is impossible. 

Bangladesh remains alert to ensure that Myanmar does not use the verification process as a delaying tactic.

Humaion noted the severe strain placed on Bangladesh’s economy, environment, public services and host communities by the presence of more than one million Rohingya. While Bangladesh provided shelter on humanitarian grounds, it did not create the crisis and therefore cannot be expected to resolve it alone.

He called on the international community to move beyond humanitarian assistance and exert effective diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to address the root causes and create conditions suitable for repatriation. Relief and funding alone will not deliver a long-term solution.

Stronger negotiating position under elected government

The State Minister observed that Bangladesh’s position in discussions on Rohingya repatriation is now stronger than in the past. 

He attributed this largely to the current government’s public mandate. The previous administration, he said, lacked such a mandate and faced questions over its international legitimacy, which weakened Bangladesh’s negotiating stance with Myanmar.

The present government took office with a clear popular mandate, and Myanmar has congratulated the new administration. This, Kobir argued, has given Bangladesh greater scope to present its position firmly in bilateral talks.

Describing the Rohingya crisis as a significant national-security concern, he said Bangladesh will continue diplomatic engagement with Myanmar while working with international partners. 

The country also plans to use its presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly to keep the issue high on the global agenda, coordinating with partners including China, the United States, Saudi Arabia and ASEAN member states.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Ivo Freijsen also addressed the seminar.