New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not attend the BRICS summit in Delhi, a diplomatic source confirmed on Thursday, citing concerns over the political activities of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Indian soil.
A senior official close to the matter told CNN-News18 that Rahman is keen to visit India at the earliest opportunity. However, he is concerned about the tangible outcomes and achievements he would need to present to his domestic audience following such a visit.
The political activities of fugitive Sheikh Hasina in India remain a source of discomfort for the Rahman government. The official stated that Hasina must be returned to Bangladesh because she has been punished and was directly involved in the killing of students during the unrest that preceded the fall of her government.
“The sooner Hadi returns the killers, the better the relationship between the two countries will be,” the source said.
Despite the tensions, Bangladesh has expressed its commitment to maintaining friendly relations with India. The official placed the blame for anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh squarely on the Awami League, the party led by Hasina.
“Awami League is responsible for the anti-India mentality that has developed in Bangladesh today. BNP is not responsible in any way. Rather, the BNP government wants to move forward with a trusting relationship with India,” the source added.
Officials stressed that Rahman’s decision to skip the multilateral BRICS summit, to which India had extended an invitation, does not reflect any desire to distance Bangladesh from its neighbour. India’s contributions during Bangladesh’s Liberation War of 1971 remain well acknowledged, the source said.
The official noted that Rahman is aware of the need to visit Delhi in a bilateral framework by November or early December. The Ganga Water Treaty requires renewal before the end of December 2026, failing which it will lapse.
Energy supply emerged as another pressing concern. Bangladesh is facing an acute energy crunch, and officials indicated that Indian assistance in this area would serve as an important confidence-building measure between the two nations.
The source said any visit by Rahman must be structured to fully revive and advance the India-Bangladesh relationship.
