Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman Not Invited to BRICS, to Skip The 2-day Event
International
oi-Prakash KL
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not be coming to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit as he has not been invited in the first place, Dhaka said.
Speaking to reporters, Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said there was room for Bangladesh to send a government representative, but not Rahman. "How shall we go? Has anyone from the Bangladesh government been invited? Our prime minister was not invited," Kobir told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, per The Daily Star. "Who told you that our Prime Minister was invited? The BIMSTEC Chair was invited. Then why are you asking this question?"
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman will not attend the New Delhi BRICS Summit, as the invitation was extended to him in his capacity as BIMSTEC Chair. India hosts the summit on Sept 12-13, focusing on resilience and cooperation, with extensive security measures deployed.
The invite went to the chair of BIMSTEC - the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation - not to Bangladesh's PM directly.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." Leaders and high-level delegations from several countries are expected to show up.
Security in the capital has been ramped up ahead of the meeting. Delhi Police has deployed around 15,000 personnel and nearly 200 companies of paramilitary forces. "Police have been deployed in different sector zones across New Delhi. Drills have been conducted. CCTVs are being monitored," Sharma said. "Our technical equipment has been installed so that any threat can be detected. We are ensuring that the public does not face any kind of inconvenience."
PTI reported that India, as the BRICS host, invited Rahman to the summit's outreach session in his role as BIMSTEC chair. BIMSTEC includes India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan.
