Sheikh Hasina criticises Dhaka leadership for skipping New Delhi BRICS summit

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has described the current leadership's choice to skip the BRICS summit in India as immature and harmful to national interests. New Delhi had invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the September gathering in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC. Mr Rahman ultimately chose not to attend the event, which took place on September 12 and 13.

Missed Growth

Ms Hasina stated that avoiding the influential grouping meant losing valuable chances for economic and social progress through cooperation in trade, investment and technology. She argued that state relations should not depend on personal feelings or political sensitivities surrounding a single individual, noting that past leaders travelled abroad even when political rivals resided in the same host cities.

Foreign Policy

The former premier also criticised the current administration's diplomatic direction, arguing that foreign policy must serve broader national goals instead of relying on short-term political calculations or domestic anti-India rhetoric. She recalled her own tenure, during which Dhaka maintained simultaneous partnerships with India, China, Japan, Russia, the United States and Europe without letting one tie harm another.

Context

The BRICS bloc brings together major emerging economies to boost global trade and development cooperation. Bilateral ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have experienced fresh strain following political changes in Bangladesh and ongoing discussions regarding diplomatic extradition requests.