MEA has no update on India visit of PM Tarique Rahman

New Delhi, Sept 8: As uncertainty continues over the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman to India for the two-day BRICS summit beginning here on September 12, the Ministry of External Affairs today said that it has no update yet to offer.

Although Bangladesh is not a member of BRICS, the Bangladesh PM was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the BRICS outreach session in his capacity as chair of BIMSTEC.

Replying to a specific question on whether India has received a confirmation on the participation of the Bangladesh Prime Minister, the MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, " Regarding presence of the Heads of States and governments for the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, we will update you on the participation but at this point of time, I would say that please wait for an update from our side. Please wait for a day or two. On Bangladesh specifically, I have no update to share with you."

India is a founding member of BRICS. It took over the rotating presidency of BRICS from Brazil and assumed leadership of the inter-governmental bloc on January 1, 2026. This is the fourth time that India is heading the grouping.

India's presidency comes during a milestone year as BRICS completes 20 years since its inception. 

To another question on whether the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh discussed anything related to the visit of the Bangladesh PM and the extradition of the former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, during his meeting with the Bangladesh President Mirza Alamgir, the MEA Official Spokesperson said, " The Indian High Commissioner paid a courtesy call on the President of Bangladesh where they talked on various aspects of India-Bangladesh relations, our shared ties and people to people ties and how to take this relationship forward in the days ahead. Regarding the question of the Prime Minister's participation, I told you that I don't have any update." 

To a question on a meeting on Tuesday between rail officials of India and Bangladesh on the resumption of passenger train services between the two countries, the MEA Official Spokesperson said that India has various engagements with Bangladesh on development cooperation, connectivity, capacity building in several such areas and these continue to move forward. In so far as this particular project is concerned, I don't have an update."