Bangladesh is considering whether Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi this September following an invitation from India, as Dhaka simultaneously prepares to host a senior U.S. envoy for high-level talks on regional and strategic issues.
According to diplomatic sources, the invitation was extended by India to Tarique Rahman in his capacity as Chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), rather than as part of bilateral Bangladesh-India engagement.
Before making a final decision on the visit, the Bangladeshi prime minister is seeking assurances that the trip would include a formal bilateral meeting with India’s top leadership. Officials say such a meeting would be a key factor in determining whether the visit proceeds.
The invitation is being viewed in Dhaka as a potential opportunity to cautiously rebuild Bangladesh-India relations following a period of strained ties. However, analysts say domestic political considerations and uncertainty over whether the visit would produce meaningful bilateral outcomes remain significant factors in the government’s deliberations.
Diplomatic officials in Dhaka believe India is aiming to emphasize regional cooperation while avoiding unresolved bilateral disputes. Speaking after a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh’s foreign minister on Wednesday, India’s newly appointed High Commissioner, Dinesh Trivedi, expressed hope that the visit would take place soon.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, arrived in Dhaka on Thursday, 33 days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Beijing.
Diplomats and analysts say Gor’s three-day visit should be viewed within a broader geopolitical context rather than as routine diplomatic engagement. They believe Washington is seeking to better understand the foreign policy priorities of Bangladesh’s new government, particularly its evolving relationship with China and its position on strategic infrastructure projects.
Gor is scheduled to begin his visit with a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, followed by talks with several cabinet ministers. On the second day of his visit, he is expected to travel to Cox’s Bazar to inspect the Rohingya refugee camps.
The most closely watched event of the visit will be his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday, which diplomats describe as the key engagement of the trip. According to sources, Gor is expected to depart Bangladesh without holding an official press briefing.
